ORIGANUM 'Bristol Cross

Description

Origanum 'Bristol Cross'

Height x Spread: 10-50cm x 10-50cm

Origanum 'Bristol Cross' is an aromatic sub-shrub. Ideally, suited to alkaline, free draining soil and full sun, this plant does extremely well in shallow soil over chalk which is all too common in Hampshire. It is hardy down to -10 degrees Celsius, but only if kept in well drained conditions all year. Wet soils can cause the roots to rot.

The flowers of 'Bristol Cross' are particularly attractive, they are held in trailing purple, pink whorls with red bracts.  Bees and other pollinators are drawn to the flowers as they open from late summer to autumn. For culinary use, the leaves have the best flavour before the flowers open.  Leaves can be used fresh or dried and even frozen into ice cubes. 

Happy and useful in large terracotta pots in full sun, it can also be used as border edging, trailing over the sides of raised beds and in gravel, coastal, cottage, informal, wildlife, city and courtyard gardens. An adaptable, drought tolerant, useful and easy to grow plant that adds scent and colour to our gardens and flavour to our cooking.