Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum
Common Name: Type: Family: Native Range: Zone: Height: Spread: Bloom Time: Bloom Description: Sun: Water: Maintenance: Suggested Use: Flower: Leaf: Tolerate: |
Herbaceous perennial Lamiaceae Greece, Turkey, Aegean Island 4 to 8 0.50 to 0.75 feet 1.00 to 1.50 feet July White Full sun Medium Low Annual, Ground Cover, Herb, Naturalize Showy Fragrant Deer, Drought, Erosion |
Origanum vulgare, commonly known as oregano, is a bushy, rhizomatous, woody-branched perennial. It typically grows to 1-3’ tall and 2’ wide. The square stems have aromatic, glandular-spotted, rounded to ovate leaves (to 1 1/2” long). Tiny, two-lipped, pinkish-purple or white flowers bloom in axillary or terminal corymb-like spikelets which rise above the foliage in summer. Plants are native from Europe to central Asia, but have escaped gardens and naturalized in parts of the eastern and far western U. S. and Canada. Greek oregano is easily grown in average, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Golden and variegated leaf forms need shade at the heat of the day. The plant does very well in gritty, sandy loams with good heat and drought tolerance. It is recommended to cut plants back regularly before flowering to keep the planting tidy and to induce growth of new leaves. Oregano is best propagated from cuttings taken from plants whose leaves have a proven superior aroma/taste since seed-grown plants sometimes have little aroma or flavor. Leaves with good flavor may be clipped fresh as needed or dried for year-round use with best leaf flavor occurring just prior to flowering. |
Information on this page is from Missouri Botanical Gardens, Dave’s Garden, All things Plants or Texas Superstar |