Plant in full sun in a well-drained soil and give occasional to infrequent irrigation. Hardy to around 5 °F. A great plant for its velvety soft white leaves that is useful in the rock garden or with other mediterranean plants.

Origanum dictamnus is native to the mountains and canyons on the Greek island of Crete where it is found growing in rocky outcrops and crevices above 1,000 feet in elevation. It has long been used to flavor food and for herbal medicinal purposes as well as for an ornamental plant and the bracts make a great addition to the dried flower bouquet. The name for the genus comes from an ancient Greek name for these aromatic herbs that is thought to be derived from the Greek words 'oros' meaning "mountain" and 'ganos' meaning "joy" or "joy of the mountain" and the specific epithet is thought to be derived from Dikti, the mountain where legend has it that Zeus was born and 'thamnos' meaning "shrub". It is also commonly called Cretan Dittany, Crete Dittany or Hop Marjoram, Wild Marjoram, Wintersweet, Eronda and Dhiktamos. This plant has been in cultivation in the US since at least the 1940s (it was listed in Baily's 1947 edition of Hortus Second) and we grew this attractive plant from 1997 to 2017. 

The information displayed on this page about Origanum dictamnus is based on our research conducted about this plant from books in our nursery library as well as from information that is provided by reliable online resources. We also have included our own observations made about it as it grew in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers when we had them in our nursery field. We also include comments received from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information aiding others to better grow it.