Origanum vulgare (9cm pot)

Excellent culinary herb. Position: full sun Soil: poor to moderately fertile, well-drained, preferably alkaline soil Rate of growth: slow to average Flowering period: July to September Hardiness: fully hardy Loose clusters of pale pink or white flowers from mid-summer to early autumn and strongly aromatic, dark green leaves. Oregano is an essential plant for a well-stocked, sunny herb garden. The leaves are an important ingredient of pizza toppings and sauces and may be marinaded to make a flavoured oil, for use in salad dressings. Garden care: Ensure that plants are well watered during the growing season. Cut back established plants by two-thirds in late summer to prevent them from becoming too straggly.