January 2014 in the Southern Hemisphere

[Lesley Cox]

Lovely to see a genuine Origanum dictamnus. I lost mine a few years ago and the replacements I've bought have all been O. tournefortii, another good one, but larger and not so woolly/white.

John, I kept mine bone dry in a pot this last winter and just as well I think as it rained and rained and rained all through. The previous winter before we moved it was in a smaller pot and not arid but still sheltered and frost free under shade cloth. I don't think it's as hardy as the choc cosmos so before I move it out to join that, I might wait and divide the tuber, as an insurance. I haven't sniffed at it yet but will do so. Right now in fact as it's about 8pm and the sun is shining after a tropical downpour around 4-5pm.

Mmmm... not really, or very faintly and sweeter rather than bitter choc as in the comos. The rain has washed it out rather and the single flower is coming to its end I think. I did pollinate it this morning but there was no visible pollen on my finger so whether it will work I've yet to see. Seed for you if it does.

[Tim Ingram]

We are trying a whole range of origanums out on the new Mediterranean bed with winter cover. Never succeeded well with O. dictamnus so far but it is a fine plant when you see it growing well. Really looking forward to this spring when the bed can be uncovered and we will see how well everything grows away.

[Anthony Darby]

This Epidendron is flowering in the front garden now.

[Steve Garvie]

Wow!!!
Eye-burning and impressive Anthony!

[johnw]

Lesley - Pass the seed on to forumists as I have had my go at it.  As best as I remember the first year there was no pollen but the following it was copious and by hand-pollinating it produced a goodly amount of seed.

I wonder if a species name has ever surfaced as it was collected wild in Mexico. 

johnw

[Hillview croconut]

We have lots of origanums here. They obviously like the dry conditions. I have a batch of self sown seedlings resulting from random crosses between Kent Beauty and Barbara Tingey and one of them is about to be released as a PBR plant under the name of Bellissimo.

Anyway here are a few more pics. They are not of good quality because the sun is too strong even from very early in the morning.

O. amanum - an excellent species which should be more widely grown here.
O. rotundifolium - a variegated form which is so long-lasting.
O. Bellissimo
And finally a random seedling which is almost identical to Kent Beauty.

Cheers, Marcus

[fermi de Sousa]

We have lots of origanums here.....And finally a random seedling which is almost identical to Kent Beauty.

Cheers, Marcus

I have to disagree with you there, Marcus,
it looks much better!!!
Can't wait to get a couple of these! Will they be released through an Agent on the Mainland North Island?
cheers
fermi

[Hillview croconut]

Hi Fermi,

Yes it's going all over the place starting in Australia and then New Zealand, Europe and hopefully the USA. In Australia it's sold through PMA.

I am hoping the variegated plant  will be picked up but its less of a sure thing. They are such great container plants with very long lasting colour so they practical pick themselves as a good mass market item.

I find Origanum dictamnus a beast to propagate. Anyone have any tips that they can pass on?

Cheers, M

[Tim Ingram]

Superb plant Marcus, and brilliantly named. Do you grow the white form of O. amanum? This is a nice robust hybrid from Marina Christopher - Origanum 'Phoenix seedling' which will be interesting to compare with 'Kent Beauty'.

[fenius]

hello, sorry to intrude from beyond the Wall but while you're on the subject, could you id mine too please?? I'll delete the post after!!

[Maggi Young]

hello, sorry to intrude from beyond the Wall but while you're on the subject, could you id mine too please?? I'll delete the post after!!

I'm sure your plant ID will be of interest to others, Fenia, and not just in  North or South 

[fenius]

  Ok then, I'll leave it up to you to move it later to the ids if you want, I put it here because there seem to be a lot of origanum experts!

[Otto Fauser]

Marcus , your Origanum 'Bellissimo ' is a stunner and aptly named .

     I find cuttings of O. dictamnus  taken in early summer strike reasonable easy in a medium of peat , perlite and coarse sand .
   I think I gave it to you many years ago .
   

[Anthony Darby]

My Acis autumnalis sown in January 2012 continues to flower, and my Nerine has produced four flowering stems from three bulbs, one now being past.

[Gerdk]

My Acis autumnalis sown in January 2012 continues to flower, and my Nerine has produced four flowering stems from three bulbs, one now being past.

Anthony,
The Acis flower is a quick and beautiful result - nice Nerine also!

Gerd