Za'atar

Origanum syriacum

Za'atar is an evergreen herb treated as an annual often used in the Middle East and tastes like a blend of thyme, marjoram, and oregano.  The highly aromatic, velvety foliage grows on upright stems which are topped by flowering bracts in late summer.  Grows best in full sun and dry to average fast-draining sandy soils.  Harvest can begin once the plant reaches 6" but must be cut once flowering starts to preserve leave flavor, and the flower buds are also edible.

MAINTENANCE NEEDS: Low Maintenance.  Cut plant to ground once flowering starts. Soils that do not drain fast will slow plant growth. 
LANDSCAPE USES:  Accents or Group Plantings, Borders, Naturalized Areas, Wildlife Garden, Rock Gardens, and Containers.

COMPANION PLANTS: Tomato, Cauliflower, Bean

IMAGES: Davidbena at en.wikipedia, Origanum syriacum, March 2015, CC BY-SA 3.0, (2) Gilabrand, Flrs 005, CC BY-SA 3.0, (3) Davidbena, Sweet marjoram (Origanum syriacum), CC BY-SA 4.0, (4) Raffi Kojian, Gardenology.org-IMG 3005 rbgs11jan, CC BY-SA 3.0

*As plants have ranges in appearance they may not appear as the images shown.