Oregano
Origanum vulgare
Bees mob its little flowers in midsummer.
Hardiness: zones 4 to 9
Light: full sun
Size: about 1.5 ft tall, 1.5 ft wide
Harvest: May to October
From: Mediterranean
Drought-hardy once established
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: food, pollinators.
Native to: Mediterranean, Temperate Europe. Hardy in zones 4 to 9.
The story
Oregano, joy of the mountain in Greek, flavoured the Mediterranean for millennia, but Americans barely knew it until soldiers came home from Italy in 1945 wanting pizza. Mexican oregano is a different plant, a verbena, with a similar flavour.
Planting
Full sun and drained soil; plant a known cutting-grown variety, since seedlings vary wildly in flavour. Hardy and spreading.
Growing
Water rarely, never feed, and cut back hard after flowering. Divide every few years to keep it vigorous.
Harvest and use
Cut stems just before flowering for the strongest flavour; dry in bundles. Fresh leaves any time.
What to watch for
Wet winters and its own spread.
See if Oregano fits your yard
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More perennial vegetables, greens and herbs
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home