Oregano

Description

Origanum vulgare – oregano

Botanical name: Origanum vulgare
Common names: Oregano, wild marjoram
Family: Lamiaceae (mint family)
Plant type: Semi-evergreen aromatic perennial herb
Habit: Compact, bushy, mound-forming
Pot size: 1 litre pot
Eventual size: Approx. 20–45cm tall × 30–45cm spread
Foliage: Aromatic green leaves on a bushy, spreading plant
Flowers: Clusters of small pink-purple flowers in summer (July–September)
Scent: Aromatic foliage
Aspect / light: Full sun
Soil: Well-drained; poor to average; tolerates lime; dislikes wet; any pH
Hardiness: RHS H7 (very hardy, below −20°C); USDA zones 5–9
Exposure: Open, hot, dry, sunny
Native range: Garden form; the genus is native to the Mediterranean and Europe
Toxicity / pet & child safety: Generally considered non-toxic to people and pets

Origanum vulgare, oregano or wild marjoram, is a tough aromatic herb forming spreading mounds of green leaves smothered in pink-purple summer flowers. One of the very best herbs for bees and sunny borders.

GardenAdvice notes

The classic oregano, also known as wild marjoram, is a tough, spreading aromatic perennial that becomes a haze of pink-purple flowers in summer — and one of the single best plants you can grow for bees and butterflies. It thrives on poor, dry, sunny soils and is as ornamental in a border as it is useful in a herb garden.

Growing & planting

Plant in spring in well-drained soil in full sun — marjorams and oreganos thrive on poor, dry, even limy soils and dislike rich, wet ground. Ideal for gravel, sunny borders, edging and containers. Space about 30cm apart.

Care & maintenance

Low-maintenance. Trim over after flowering to keep it neat and encourage fresh growth. Water only while establishing; thereafter it is drought-tolerant. Keep it on the dry side, especially over winter, to avoid rot. Divide congested clumps in spring.

Propagation

• Division: Lift and divide clumps in spring.
• Cuttings: Take softwood cuttings in early summer.

Pests & diseases

Generally trouble-free in a sunny, well-drained spot. Its main enemy is winter wet, which causes rot. Otherwise little troubled by pests or disease.

Uses in the garden

Superb for gravel and Mediterranean-style gardens, sunny borders, edging, herb gardens and containers, where the aromatic foliage and bee-friendly flowers earn their place.

Wildlife value

Marjoram and oregano are among the very best plants for pollinators: the summer flowers are hugely attractive to bees, butterflies and hoverflies, and are a magnet for beneficial insects.

Toxicity & safety

This herb is generally regarded as non-toxic to people and pets.

GardenAdvice tip

If you want to help the bees, let your oregano flower — in high summer it becomes a purple haze absolutely covered in bees and butterflies, one of the best pollinator plants of all. It thrives on poor, dry soil in full sun, so don’t pamper it, and shear it back after flowering to keep it tidy.

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