Ornamental Oregano (Origanum laevigatum 'Herrenhausen')
oh-RIG-an-um lay-vih-GAY-tum 'Herrenhausen'

Deciduous Perennial Clump-Forming, Mounding in the Lamiaceae Family
A compact, clump-forming oregano with purple-tinged foliage and showy pink-purple flowers from late summer into fall.

Origanum laevigatum 'Herrenhausen' is a clump-forming oregano cultivar grown mainly for ornamental value. Its slightly succulent, oval leaves emerge green and develop deep purple-red tones, especially in full sun, reaching 12-24 inches tall and about as wide. From August into September it produces abundant clusters of small, tubular purple-pink flowers that are popular with pollinators. It thrives in average, well-drained soil and is drought tolerant once established, making it a good fit for Mediterranean-style or xeriscape plantings.

Pros

  • Attractive purple-tinged foliage all season
  • Showy late-summer to fall flowers that draw pollinators
  • Drought tolerant once established

Cons

  • May not reliably overwinter at the coldest end of zone 5; good drainage helps
  • Can look leggy without occasional shearing
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 12 - 24 inches tall. 12 - 18 inches wide.
Sun Exposure Full Sun - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Dry - Medium
Zones 5a - 9b (Usually hardy to -20° F)
Tags Attracts Pollinators, Colorful Foliage, Container, Deciduous, Drought Tolerant, Dry, Full Sun, Full Sun, Good for Rock Garden, Medium, Perennial, Rabbit Resistant
Bloom Period August to September
Flower Color Purple / Pink
 

More Info from Experts

Photos of This with...

Gold Pillar Barberry, Buzz Violet Blue Butterfly Bush, Kismet Intense Orange Coneflower, All Gold Japanese Forest Grass, Tiger Eyes Staghorn Sumac
 
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/03 - 10/04
2024 : 05/01 - 10/05
2023 : 05/04 - 09/30

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!