The 'Silver Anniversary' marjoram brings Mediterranean mountain beauty to your garden with its distinctive variegated foliage of creamy yellow and white leaves. This ornamental cultivar of Origanum laevigatum grows 12-18 inches tall in zones 5-8, producing tiny pink flowers from summer through fall that butterflies adore. Ready for harvest in 70 days, it thrives in full sun with moderate water and exceptional drought tolerance once established.
12
Full Sun
Moderate
5-8
18in H x 24in W
—
High
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What sets 'Silver Anniversary' apart is its stunning variegated leaves that shimmer with creamy yellow and white markings against a backdrop of aromatic foliage. The plant forms attractive rounded mounds up to 24 inches wide, crowned with delicate pink blooms that rise 10 inches above the foliage. While beautiful enough for ornamental use, this cultivar maintains the aromatic qualities of its Mediterranean heritage, making it valuable for both visual appeal and fragrance in potpourris.
Primarily grown as an ornamental herb for its striking variegated foliage and summer-long display of pink flowers. The aromatic leaves make excellent additions to potpourris and dried arrangements. While not ideal for cooking due to its milder flavor compared to culinary oreganos, it serves beautifully as a fragrant garnish and works well in herb gardens, containers, and as ground cover in sunny locations.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before the last frost date at soil temperatures of 65-75°F. Press the tiny seeds into the surface rather than burying them deep.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after all danger of frost has passed when plants reach 3 inches tall, spacing them 12 inches apart in rows 18 inches apart.
Can be directly sown 1-2 weeks before the average last frost date, though indoor starting is recommended due to the very small seed size.
For aromatic use, harvest leaves throughout the growing season by cutting fresh shoots. The best fragrance is captured just before flowering begins. For drying, cut back up to half the plant when flower buds first appear, then hang bunches in a warm, dry, well-ventilated area or spread leaves on screens for even drying.
Shear plants back regularly before flowering to maintain a tidy appearance and encourage dense, bushy growth with fresh aromatic leaves. This also prevents the plant from becoming woody and helps maintain the ornamental quality of the variegated foliage.
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“This cultivar stems from Origanum laevigatum, a species native to the rocky mountainous regions of Turkey and Cyprus where it earned the poetic name "beauty of the mountain." The genus name itself reflects this heritage, likely derived from the Greek words 'oros' meaning mountain and 'gamos' meaning beauty. 'Silver Anniversary' represents the ornamental breeding of this wild Mediterranean species, selected for its exceptional variegated foliage that transforms the traditional herb into a striking garden specimen.”