Postage : Seeds only $4 / Plants $20
Highly pettable, rounded, stem hugging, grey leaves are covered in soft cobwebby fur, more like a friendly garden pet than a plant. All summer long, stiff stems of gracefully pendant, tawny pink bracts disclose small, tubular, soft pink flowers above the low mounds of foliage.
If I was going to be stranded on a desert island this would be the oregano I would take, it would also probably be the most likely to succeed.
Summer drought, exposure and well drained alkaline soil preferred but will grow happily, if somewhat more slowly, in clay soils that aren't too wet.
Slow growing and hence almost maintenance free with removal of spent stems all that is necessary.
Can be used in the kitchen but the flavour is very similar to other much faster growing and less attractive oreganos. It otherwise has been used historically for healing, enhancing astral projection and as an aphrodisiac.
The Dittany of both Aristotle and Harry Potter.
A culinary herb grown throughout Europe and much of Asia the fresh leaves, flowers and stems are typically used to flavour fish and vegetables, in soups and of course to flavour Dill pickles. The dried seeds can be used in a similar fashion, store well and so are available for use year round.
A very hardy, winter growing annual in Perth and best scratched in directly where it is to grow in autumn or early winter when the weather has cooled down, irrigation is unnecessary. Colder regions may have to resort to spring sowing. The rosette of soft, feathery, glaucous leaves elongates on a stiff hollow stem over the course of the growing season to be topped in spring by branching, flat, umbrella-like heads of soft sulphur yellow flowers. Attractive and lends a little whimsy to any garden.
The dried seed heads can remain attractive long after the seeds have fallen or been collected.
Self sows freely in any bare soil that receives copious sunshine. If you can resist eating it all you too can have a self sustaining population.
An attractive chartreuse groundcover forming a very flat dense mat of soft, rounded leaves. A flowing foil for brightly coloured flowers, magenta or electric blue are always winners with chartreuse, or as lift beneath the eaves of sombre foliaged shrubs.
Foamy heads of small near white flowers in rosy bracts lend a free spirited beauty in spring.
Just as tasty as the boring green forms but much more sun tolerant and reliable than O. vulgare ‘Aureum’, though not as brassy in colour, which it has superseded in the nursery.
(Gold Rosemary) An evergreen, woody shrub. Linear, glossy, gold and green, silver backed, highly aromatic, leaves, surround erect woody, branching stems. Throughout the year tubular, pale blue flowers are produced. Tolerant of most soil, provide good drainage. Leaves are used in cooking. Slow growing, but a nice change from the regular Rosemary.
Flattest, dark green groundcover, forming a durable mat between stones or spaced paving, as a lawn or simple topping around a large potted specimen. Round clusters of bright pink flowers are a further delight for a long period over winter and spring. It tastes good too.
A few smaller, choice mediterranean bulbs protruding through its expanse could constitute a garden in entirety.
Well drained soil and sun are all that is required for this classic garden favourite. Self sows usefully in unplantable places.