Oregano Dittany Of Crete is an ornamental Oregano perennial native to Crete and imported to the United States in the 1940s. This variety is edible, although it has a milder flavor than its traditional counterparts, and is typically grown for its ornamental value. This plant offers a shrubby, mounding habit of 10-12" tall and 12-15" wide with fuzzy, green, aromatic foliage and small pink flowers on stalks June-August. Hardy to zone 7, this plant attracts pollinators, is drought tolerant, and resists deer and rabbits. Oregano Dittany Of Crete flourishes in full sun with minimal water, bringing depth and texture to the landscape. For a culinary variety, plant Oregano Italian in the herb garden.
Oregano Dittany Of Crete Selling Tips
Sell Oregano Dittany Of Crete to customers looking for a low-maintenance perennial groundcover or an attractive flowering plant for a xeriscape or container. Customers, bees, and butterflies love this ornamental Oregano's aromatic foliage and pink blooms. This plant excels in full sun and drought, bringing color and texture to the landscape with almost no maintenance. Perennial in zone 7-11, Dittany of Crete is a prize in the garden, with moderate culinary use and antibacterial properties. Grow this plant alongside Sedum in the landscape or with Tomatoes, Thyme, and Sage in the vegetable garden.
Coach Your Customer
1. Space plants 15" apart in well-drained soil in full sun.
2. Water occasionally or more often in extreme heat and drought.
General Growing Tips For Your Rooted Cutting Liner
For best results with Oregano Dittany Of Crete, use one rooted plug per 4-inch container or three per 6-inch or larger container. Use a well-drained soil with a pH of 5.8-6.2, temperatures of 65-70 daytime and 55-60 nighttime, and light feed (150-200 ppm N) with a supplement of Iron to improve foliage color. Pinch once, 5-10 days after transplant. This plant doesn't require PGRs. You may see aphids, whiteflies, or mealybugs, and root rot can develop in overly wet conditions.
Flowering
Pink flowers bloom on stalks from June through August.
Pinching
Pinch once, 5-10 days after transplanting.
Spacing
Space containers for adequate airflow and sunlight penetration around the base of each plant. Don't allow foliage to touch. We recommend growing Oregano in 4-inch or larger containers.
Height Control
We don't recommend using PGRs on herbs.
Pests
You may see aphids, whiteflies, and mealybugs.
Disease
This plant isn't prone to disease but root rot may develop in overly wet conditions. Water at the base of each plant in the morning and allow the soil to dry out between waterings. Provide good airflow in your greenhouse and space containers so sunlight can penetrate to the soil level of each plant.
Planting Oregano Dittany Of Crete Liners
We recommend planting one rooted plug per 4-inch container or three per 6- or 10-inch container. Use a well-drained soil and evenly space or center the ellepot(s) in the container.
Rooted Cuttings
Cuttings vary in size between different plant families. These rooted starter plants will arrive ready to be transplanted in to your final container. If they are to be used in a landscape application, you will need to establish them in a 4 inch pot or an 1801 before planting outside.
Herb Oregano Dittany Of Crete Quick Reference Guide
| 4 Inch crop time | 4-6 Weeks |
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| Bloom Period | Fall, Spring |
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| Habit | Mounding |
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| Height | 12-24 inches |
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| Light | Full Sun, Partial Shade |
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| Minimum Temp | 45 |
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| Water Needs | Moderate |
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| Patented Plant | No |
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