Origanum vulgare 'Compactum'

Small, compact & so strikingly pretty that many people don’t realize that they also have a very fine culinary herb. A treasured gift from the late Gary Matson of Redding, CA it grows into an incredibly tight mound, slowly spreading to 2-3’ wide & the only maintenance required is a shearing in the Winter when the 10” flower stems finish blooming. It looks terrific spreading on mounds or spilling over edges of bed & pots. In the early Summer the bees line up at the 1” clusters of rosy pink flowers & you can use the florets as nice addition to salads. The 1/4” wide & 1/2” wide leaves are superb in any dish requiring oregano. Give the plant reasonably well-drained soil (some clay is OK).