Oregano, Marjoram a Versatile and Easy to Grow Herb

Little beats the versatility of oregano. As at home in the flower border as it is in the kitchen, this tough plant has to be one of the best fresh herbs to grow.

Sweet Marjoram (Origanum majorana), a type of Oregano is used in bouquet garni, and is part of the mint family though better behaved. It can self-seed, particularly the common oregano, Origanum vulgare, but isn’t as rampant as a mint.

Oregano/Marjoram is a Mediterranean plant so revels in free-draining soil and lots of sunshine. The Golden Oregano variety (Origanum vulgare ‘Aureum’) is best in part-shade though as it can scorch in fierce sun.

We grow nine varieties all peat and pesticide-free – and have something to suit all tastes. O. syriacum, from Syria, has pretty grey-green leaves that are used in Za’atar. O. vulgare ‘Supreme’ has highly aromatic leaves whose flavour intensifies when dried. For something different, why not try ‘Hot and Spicy’, which has a slight kick.

As well as the tasty leaves, oregano has pretty flowers in shades of pink, purple and white that are loved by pollinators. Try growing the mat forming varieties in a flower border where they will make a neat evergreen mat of foliage, such as Oregano Compact, Golden Oregano or Variegated Oregano. The green and white leaves of Variegated Oregano are particularly attractive. If you don’t want oreganos to self-seed, ensure you cut them back as the flowers fade.

Alternatively, oregano is great in a pot, perhaps close to the kitchen door to make harvesting easier. Good varieties include O. vulgare ‘Compactum’, which makes a neat plant with large clusters of pink flowers. 

Give oreganos well-drained soil in a sunny spot and they are easy herbs to grow. Keep plants tidy by trimming after flowering. They can be propagated by cuttings taken in June or by growing from seed over spring and summer.

Fresh herbs come into their own in the kitchen and we love using oregano. Here’s one of our favourite recipes.

Oregano is such a great addition when you have a last minute guest drop in for dinner, because it is so easy and tasty fresh. 

Chop tomatoes and onion and add crushed garlic. Make a dressing from olive oil, red wine vinegar (easily substituted with others), seasoned with salt and black pepper and a good helping of hot and spicy oregano leaves. Vary it with some feta cheese, garlic chives and parsley. So simple, but so good!