Oregano: A Comprehensive Guide to Growing & Caring for Origanum Vulgare

Oregano is a great plant to grow both indoors and outdoors. It produces delicate blooms and attractive foliage and has a unique flavour that will elevate any dish. Read our guide to oregano for everything you’ll ever need to know! Tips for planting & caring for “Origanum vulgare”

Native to Mediterranean regions but commonly found in temperate regions as well, Oregano is a member of the popular Origanum genus, in the mint family – Lamiaceae which it shares with other popular herbs and plants such as catnip, hyssop, lavender, lemon balm, mint, basil, marjoram, salvia, thyme, and more.

Oregano is a treasured culinary herb with flavorful leaves that can be used both dried and fresh. It is most frequently used in savoury and spicy dishes such as grilled vegetables, meat, fish, salads, but also pizza, and pasta.

For most of us, oregano is the staple herb of Mediterranean cuisine and important addition to our favourite dishes so why not bring this treasured herb into our gardens and homes? Origanum vulgare is a useful, hardy, and low-maintenance herb that looks great in containers, cottage gardens, rock gardens, hanging baskets, and even as a groundcover.

In this article, we’ll go over a few key aspects that gardeners need to remember when adding Origanum vulgare a.k.a oregano to their plant collection. Keep reading our article to find out more!

About Oregano

• Derived from the Latin word ‘origanum’ and the Greek word ‘origanon’, the word oregano has Spanish origins and it has been used since the 18th century. In Greek, the word ‘origanon’ is a compound term that consists of ‘óros’ which means mountain and gános which means brightness. So the word origanon would loosely translate to ‘brightness of the mountain’.
• There are several plants that are commonly referred to as ‘oregano’ and that are widely used in international cuisines, but not all of them are members of the Origanum genus.
• As mentioned above, oregano is related to many other herbs that belong to the same plant family, including marjoram. In some regions, oregano is referred to as wild marjoram.
• Oregano is a very popular herb, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that humans have been interested in its unique flavour and characteristics for centuries and so, they have developed numerous subspecies and strains. The flavours of the different varieties of oregano can be spicy, sweet, or astringent.
• Regular oregano that is commonly sold in nurseries and that is meant for gardens isn’t always the most flavourful, but it still has some merits as it can pollinate other more flavourful strains.
• There are many varieties of oregano that you can grow – some do better in the ground, while others are more fit for container growing. Different types of oregano can also have different environmental needs, so you will be able to find the perfect oregano plant regardless of where you live.
• Some of the most popular types of oregano are golden oregano (Origanum vulgare var. aureum) which is edible and has golden foliage and Greek oregano (Origanum vulgare var. hirtum) which is sometimes referred to as Italian oregano or true oregano and it is the best-known variety and an important ingredient on pizza, pasta, and salads.
• The ‘Cleopatra’ cultivar is a great option if you are looking for the best oregano variety as it has won the All-America Selections Edible Award in 2015. This type of oregano has silvery-grey leaves and produces small white blooms. It is both attractive and delicious, milder than Italian and Greek varieties and it also has a light peppermint flavour. ‘Cleopatra’ oregano can be grown as a creeper or as a trailing plant and it can be grown in containers, in herb gardens, and on sunny windowsills.
• Another interesting oregano variety is Greek oregano ‘Hot and Spicy’ which is more intense than the classic version. It has a more powerful flavour and it works great with spicy dishes and salsas. Oregano ‘Hot and Spicy’ produces delicate pink blooms that appear in midsummer.
• Oregano is very often used in Mediterranean cuisine, but also in Latin American cuisine especially in Mexico and Argentine. Oregano is very popular in Turkey as well, where it is mostly used to flavour traditional mutton and lamb dishes. In many traditional restaurants, you can even find oregano on the table, next to salt and pepper.
• In Portugal, dried oregano is used in generous amounts on tomato and cucumber salads, but it can be used in cooked dishes as well. In Albania, especially in the northern regions, oregano tea is a very popular herbal beverage.
• Oregano has an earthy flavour, slightly bitter and warm that can vary depending on the cultivar. Good-quality oregano can be very intense and it can even numb the tip of your tongue. This is usually the case with warm climate plants, as colder climate plants are not as flavourful.
• The flavour of oregano is strongly influenced by environmental conditions such as the soil, the climate, and the season. Oregano is hardy in USDA zones 5-10 but it can grow in colder climates as an annual plant.

Oregano

Oregano Features

• Oregano is a woody perennial plant, sometimes called wild marjoram and often confused with its close relative Origanum marjorama (marjoram). Both herbs are widely used and cultivated for their culinary value but also as ornamental plants.
• Oregano is usually a perennial plant, but in colder climates is can be grown as an annual plant as it doesn’t always survive in cold weather.
• Oregano is between 20 to 80 cm (8 to 31 inches) tall and its leaves are 1 to 4 cm (1/2 to 1.5 inches) long. It has opposite leaves and purple spade-shaped flowers that grow on spikes usually during the summer months.
• There are many varieties of oregano that have different flower colours, growth habits, and different-looking foliage.
• The best companion plants for oregano are cabbage, cucumber, cauliflower, sprouts, beans, strawberries, and tomatoes. Oregano will also grow well alongside other herbs such as dill, marjoram, lavender, rosemary, and parsley. It is not recommended to plant oregano with mint, basil, chives, or cilantro, as these plants require a higher level of moisture.
• Although oregano is perfectly safe for humans, it can have toxic effects on pets. Oregano leaves, both fresh and dried contain certain chemicals that can cause digestive problems in cats, dogs, and other pets.

Oregano flower

Growing Oregano

Like all Mediterranean plants, oregano loves full sun and well-drained soil. The ideal soil pH for oregano plants is between 4.5 and 8.7, but you don’t need to worry too much as this plant is not picky when it comes to soil.

Also, it will thrive in most types of soil so you don’t have to amend it before you introduce oregano to your garden. The most important aspects that you need to consider when growing oregano are to plant it in a sunny location, avoid overwatering, and trim the plants regularly.

One thing to remember when growing oregano is that this plant can get leggy, so it’s going to need a little bit of maintenance and shaping. If your plant is looking lanky, all you have to do is to pinch it back or harvest the leaves regularly.

If you love adding oregano to your food, this will happen naturally. You can also collect the leaves and dry them as oregano leaves have a very nice flavour when dried. So, even if you don’t cook with oregano very often, you should still harvest the leaves to encourage a nice busy growth.

Oregano

Watering Oregano

If you live in an area with hot and dry summers, oregano will be more than happy to grow in your garden. It will only require a little water once a week. It is very important to avoid overwatering and growing oregano in soggy soil is not recommended as it can lead to a wide range of issues such as pest infestations and fungal infections.

To be on the safe side and to keep your plants healthy and happy, use the ‘soak and dry’ method which consists of letting the soil dry out completely before you water your plants. Being a drought-tolerant plant, oregano will make an easy-going container plant and a nice addition to your kitchen windowsill or to your balcony herb garden. It doesn’t require extra fertilization, which makes the process of growing it even easier.

Oregano essential oil

Propagating Oregano

There are many easy ways to propagate oregano, all of them equally rewarding and fun. You can make more of these versatile plants by growing them from seed, or by propagating existing plants through cuttings or division.

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Propagating oregano from seeds

You can sow oregano seeds in containers or outdoors. If you want to plant the seeds outdoors, it’s recommended to do so when daytime temperatures are around 20°C (70°F). Growing oregano from seeds is an easy task, all you have to do is sprinkle the seeds and press them gently into the soil.

You don’t need to cover the seeds because they are tiny and they need light to germinate. It is recommended to sow the seeds in rows and leave some space in-between the rows and between the seedlings. The germination period will usually take about 4 days, so you can grow oregano from seeds even if you are not a very patient gardener.

Oregano is a great container plant, so you can start the seeds indoors as well. If you plan on growing your oregano plants in containers, make sure you place them on a sunny windowsill where the seedlings will get plenty of light. You can use grow lights if you can’t provide your plants with enough natural light. You can keep the plants in containers or you can transplant them outdoors in spring when the last risk of frost has passed.

Propagating oregano from cuttings

The best time to propagate oregano plants from cuttings is in spring. Use a clean, sharp knife or a pair of garden shears to cut a piece of softwood stem. It’s best to cut it at a 45-degree angle. Next, remove the lower leaves and place the cuttings in a mix of peat moss and vermiculite, or in water.

If you put the cuttings in water, you will have to change the water every two or three days. If you choose a soilless mix, moisturize it regularly. For best results, keep the cuttings in a well-light location, protected from direct sun. This propagation method will usually take a few weeks and your new plants should be ready to be transplanted into their new environment in four to five weeks.

Propagating oregano through root division

Mature and vigorous oregano plants can be propagated through root division. The perfect time to start this process is in spring or at the beginning of autumn. It is important for the ground to be warm in order for the plants to thrive after the division. This method is very straightforward – all you need to do is to dig up your mature plant and cut the root ball into two or more sections. Next, plant the freshly-cut sections in containers or directly in your garden.

Oregano Growing In A Pot

Oregano Common Problems

Like all delicious herbs, oregano can attract a wide range of insects such as aphids, leaf miners, and spider mites. Although they don’t always kill the plants they infest, these insects can still be quite harmful and annoying because they suck the sap and the fluids from the plant’s leaves and stems.

The first signs of infestation are usually deformed, brown, or falling leaves. It is wise to inspect your oregano plants regularly to check for intruders and to make sure you notice them before they wreak havoc. If you notice any unwanted guests on your oregano plants, you can start by washing the pests off and treating the plants with neem oil. A blast of water is usually enough to remove aphids, but if the infestation is severe, neem oil is an effective solution.

When the environmental conditions are not ideal, especially if you accidentally overwater your plants or if they are too crowded, your plants might be affected by fungal infections such as root rot and botrytis. The first signs of a fungal infection are rotting leaves and roots, or gradual wilting and the best thing to do is to remove the affected plants to prevent the disease from spreading to your healthy plants.

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In Conclusion

Oregano is a great herb to grow both indoors and outdoors. It is attractive when grown in containers and some varieties can be grown in hanging baskets as they have a trailing habit. They are also easy to grow in garden beds and can be paired with many different vegetables and aromatic herbs. If you love Mediterranean cuisine as much as we do, you will certainly enjoy having your own oregano plant. Are you growing oregano? Share your experience in the comment section!

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