Species bible hyssop
Green flower with leaves, green stems and white hair

bible hyssop

Origanum syriacum

Bible hyssop (Origanum syriacum) is a shrubby evergreen herb from the mint family, native to the Mediterranean region. It grows up to 50 cm tall with white-pink flowers and dark blue berries. The leaves of this plant have a pungent and spicy scent, and are used as a culinary and medicinal herb. In the Bible, hyssop was used to cleanse lepers and it is still used in some herbal remedies today. It is also used to make tea and essential oil. Bible hyssop is a drought-tolerant aromatic plant that is easy to cultivate through propagation and is a great addition to herb gardens.

Cycle:

Herbaceous Perennial

Watering:

Minimum

Propagation:

Cutting,Division,Layering Propagation,Seed Propagation,Stem Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

9 - 10

Flowers:

White Flowers

Sun:

Full sun

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Bible hyssop (Origanum syriacum) prefers a sandy, well-draining soil in a warm, sunny location. Provide water for your hyssop plant regularly, but water deeply and infrequently. About once a week should be sufficient, but you should monitor the soil moisture levels and adjust as necessary. Allow the surface of the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. Be sure not to overwater as this can be damaging to the roots. In summer months, especially in hot climates, your bible hyssop plant may need to be watered twice a week or more. Additionally, mulching the soil around your hyssop can help to retain moisture and reduce weeds.

sunlight

Bible hyssop (Origanum syriacum) does best in full sun, receiving at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. This species thrives in temperatures ranging from 60 to 80°F and can tolerate temperatures down to 20°F, but is generally not frost tolerant. This plant does not like the cold, and if temperatures go down, it may die off during the winter months. It prefers soil with good drainage and should be fertilized in the spring and midsummer. Bible hyssop will start to bloom in the summer months and can grow up to 18 inches tall. This plant requires regular watering during the growing season, but can tolerate some drought conditions and even thrive during a dry spell if temperatures are not too high. It is important to keep the soil around the plant moist but not waterlogged.

pruning

Bible hyssop (Origanum syriacum) should be pruned during the spring months, when new growth begins. Trim about a third of each stem just 1/4 inch above the internode to encourage branching. Cutting below the internode may cause the branch to die. Prune lightly once a year in order to maintain the desired shape and size of the plant. For plants grown primarily for decorative purposes, it is best to prune the plants heavily and then wait until the following year to prune again. Pruning too much in 1 season can damage the plant.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Origanum syriacum typically starts flowering in June.

Hardiness Map