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Perennial of the Lamiaceae family, this cultivar is a horticultural hybrid derived from Origanum rotundifolium, a species native to Turkey and Georgia. It was selected in the United Kingdom and is now one of the most widespread ornamental oreganos in specialized horticulture.
It forms a small spreading to trailing bush, 15 to 25 cm in height, with slender, arched stems bearing round to oval, sessile leaves, of a fresh slightly glaucous green, arranged in pairs along the stems.
The main attraction lies in its hanging spikes composed of large rounded bracts, overlapping like scales, initially tender green then gradually tinged with pale pink to soft lilac-pink as the flowering progresses. Tiny lilac-pink tubular flowers discreetly escape between the bracts. Compared to 'Barbara Tingey', the hue of the bracts remains softer, more pastel, never reaching the strong pinks of the latter — a clear difference between the two cultivars when observed side by side.
In its natural habitat, the parent species blooms from July to September. In cultivation, 'Kent Beauty' blooms from June to August, with a notable decorative longevity thanks to the persistence of the bracts after the flowers fall.
It requires impeccable drainage, a light and mineral substrate, in full sun. Stagnant winter humidity is its main enemy. Cultivation in a raised pot or under cold shelter is recommended in regions with cold and rainy winters.