Pot Marjoram (Oreganum vulgare)

[elleme]

I'm really glad I grew a couple of these from seed last year as they have to be the best value flowering plants in my garden for the amount of space they take up. It's been in flower for ages now and every time I go out there, it's always got bees, hoverflies, wasps and butterflies on it. I saw a holly blue on it just now and I haven't seen anything much this summer but cabbage whites otherwise. The flying insects are also visiting the nearby garlic chives and echinops but not anywhere near as much.

I've also got the golden oregano, 'Aureum' which has pink flowers but they don't carry on for long and the insects pretty much ignore it in favour of the species, the difference is really notable.

[Kayleigh]

I have this plant too..
Mine is full of insects - I love the flowers..

[Gill Catton]

absolutely, I love this plant, put a few in next to some mint and the plants are all constantly stuffed full of insects - 6 species of hoverfly this year including Volucella inanis lots of other flies, spiders, bees and butterflies (including holly blue, speckled wood, small white and gatekeeper)too), I love it - and its good in pasta and chicken gravy!! An all round winner

[Ida]

I have lots of it in my garden; as not only is it a fab nectar plant, but it also seems to be unpalatable to slugs and snails - a winning combination in my book!

[Susie]

I've got the golden marjoram too and have found it pretty useless, just the odd Meadow Brown nectars on it. Next year it is all coming out and being replaced with pot marjoram.