How to Identify and Care for an Acorn Bank Oregano

The Acorn Bank Oregano (Origanum vulgare) is of the Lamiaceae family and is named after the Acorn Bank House located in Cumbria, England. The cultivar is Acorn Bank. The flowers and leaves are fragrant, and it is used in Italian, Mexican, Greek and Cuban cuisines to give dishes a peppery flavor. This plant thrives in zones 5 to 9. No AHS Heat Zone has been defined for this plant. It grows in a mixture of sand and clay with a pH of 5.5 to 7.5.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Identify the Acorn Bank Oregano by its pointy leaves. The round leaves are about an inch long and have margins that curl in. They range in color from yellow-green to gold and dark green. The plant grows to about 20 inches high and 20 inches wide. The long-lasting flowers are white and very fragrant. It blooms in mid summer to early fall.

2. Plant the Acorn Bank Oregano in sun to full sun--preferably in a place that gets at least six hours of continuous sunlight per day. Water deeply, but allow the soil to start to dry out before watering again. Do not allow the plants to wilt.

3. Fertilize with an organic fertilizer if you will be using the Acorn Bank Oregano for food. If using it for landscaping, you can also use a water-soluble, quick release fertilizer. Fertilize every two weeks if using a water-soluble fertilizer. If using an organic fertilizer, follow the instructions on the package, as different brands may have different strengths and ingredients.

4. Protect the Acorn Bank Oregano from pests such as spider mites and aphids. Keep weeds down and water as much as possible according to the above watering instructions. Introduce ladybugs and ladybug larvae to the garden to help control these pests. Lacewings will also eat aphids and can be introduced to the garden.

Tips & Warnings

• The Acorn Bank Oregano is deer, drought, rabbit, slop and pollution tolerant.

Resources

• Backyard Gardener