Oregano

It is in the class Liliatae. It is Monocotyledoneae. The “monocots” are the second class of seed plants which include 50000 species. Common features include one cotyledon, three-fold symmetry in flowers and often parallel venation. The genus is Origanum. Its species it Labiatae/Lamiaceae which is the mint family. There are many species of oregano used around the world. There is a confusion of species among the oregano and marjoram varieties. There is a theory the modern varieties we have now, probably originated from the same plant but specimens were taken to different areas and thus developed differently into the species we now have. Greek oregano, Italian oregano, Sweet marjoram, etc. Sometimes it is difficult to determine which species is which. However, generally oregano has purple flowers while marjoram has white flowers, which is one way to determine which is which. Oregano is part of a fairly large genus of herbs. It is native to the Mediterranean all the way to central Asia, but has naturalized widely in North America where it is called wild marjoram. Oregano is from the Mediterranean region of Europe and Asia. Greek oregano is from Greece and Turkey. The most widely used and studied species are O. vulgare which is native to Europe, O. onites which is native to Greece and Asia, and O. heracleoticum which is native to Italy, the Balkan peninsula, and West Asia. Other Origanum species include: Origanum syriacum which is the Bible Hyssop or Syrian Oregano, Origanum sativum is the Brazilian Orégano, and Oregano Lamiaceae which is also called Greek oregano or wild marjoram. Oregano grows wild on the hillsides in Greece earning its name "joy of the mountains". The Greek name origanon refers to oros “mountain”, and the verb ganousthai “delight in”, because oregano prefers higher altitude in Mediterranean climate. Some Scandinavian names also contain an element of that kind: Norwegian bergmynte and Icelandic bergminta “mountain mint” and Finnish mäkimeirami “hill marjoram”. Names for Oregano in the large majority of European languages are very similar, or even the same: The spice is named oregano not only in English, but also in German, Danish, Polish and even Hebrew. Minor spelling modification occur in some other languages such as Czech oregáno, Spanish orégano, Icelandic oreganó, Italian origano, Catalan orenga, Irish Gaelic oragan and Portuguese orégão. Several species of genus Origanum are native to the Mediterranean, all of which are traded as a spice. The influence of climate, season and soil on the composition of the essential oil is greater than the difference between the various species. The most important species are O. vulgare (pan-European), O. onites (Greece, Asia Minor) and O. heracleoticum (Italy, Balkan peninsular, West Asia). . Mexican Oregano stems from the plant Lippia graveolens. Although only loosely related to oregano, Mexican oregano displays a flavor very similar to that of oregano, albeit stronger. It is increasingly traded, especially in the US.

Oregano is a bushy, semi-woody sub-shrub with upright or spreading stems and branches. Some varieties grow in moundlike mats, spreading by underground stems called rhizomes, and others with a more upright habit. The aromatic leaves are oval-shaped, about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) long and usually pubescent or fuzzy. Throughout the summer oregano bears tiny purple tube-shaped flowers that are about 1/8 in (0.3 cm) long. These peek out from whorls of purplish-green leafy 1 in (2.5 cm) long bracts that resemble little pinecones. This is an extremely variable species with several subspecies and named cultivars grown for ornamental, culinary and medicinal uses.

'Aureum' has yellow leaves and pink flowers; 'Aureum Crispum' has curly yellow leaves; 'Thumble's Variety' grows in a low mound. 'Heiderose' is more upright growing to 2 or 3 feet tall and has pink flowers. 'Compactum' is very low and wide spreading and rarely flowers. The wild form is upright, to 3 feet tall. Greek oregano, O. vulgare subsp. hirtum or O. heracleoticum, is the popular culinary herb. It has hairy leaves and bracts, and white flowers. O. vulgare 'Viride', with white flowers and green bracts, also is used as a culinary herb. Italian oregano Origanum X majoricum is a hybrid resulting from crossing oregano and sweet marjoram “O. majorana“, and combines the pungency of Greek oregano with the sweetness of marjoram.

The oregano species is easy to grow. It needs well-drained soil, plenty of sun. Its growing conditions greatly affect its flavor and strength. Oregano does not need fertilizer and using it will weaken the flavor. Too much fertilizer prevents the oils from developing, and that's where the flavor comes from. It grows well in the ground or in containers. It mixes well with the other Mediterranean herbs such as thyme and rosemary in tubs, planters and herb gardens. Be sure not to over water and do not let the roots sit in wetness. Especially in containers, the soil needs to dry out between watering. In the ground, the good drainage will keep the roots from rotting during a rainy season. Plants can be propagated by seed, division or cuttings. Sprinkle seeds over the soil, and do not cover, as sunlight sparks germination. Start indoors and transplant after the danger of frost has passed. Prune monthly, clipping back flower stalks to keep the plant bushy and preventing it from bolting to seed. Once this happens, the flavor will be affected. It is fine to prune the plant to shape it. In warm climates it is a must, or your oregano will take over the herb garden. Different species of oregano can cross-pollinate, so if you have more than one species in your garden and collect and replant seeds the following year, you may get a surprise. It is very practical in the garden as well as ornamental. Grow it in your vegetable garden letting it flower and it will attract plenty of bees and butterflies to help pollinate your vegetables. Use a low, spreading variety of oregano as an edge in borders and around the herb garden. Oregano does great in a hanging basket. It is a perennial in hardiness zones 4 - 9. In cold climates, grow in a pot and bring indoors in winter so frost will not kill it off. Greek oregano should be pinched back to encourage branching, and dug up and divided every 2 or 3 years as it becomes woody and less productive. Flavor is at its best after the buds have formed but just before the flowers open. So, whether you grow Sweet Marjoram or Greek Oregano from seed, or some of the modern cultivars from purchased plants or cuttings, the oregano species is a must for the herb garden and the kitchen.

To harvest oregano clip the leaves as soon as plant is about six inches high. The optimal time to harvest herbs is late morning, while it's still cool and the dew has dried. However, harvesting just before use in evening or late afternoon is better than not having fresh herbs at all. The dried flower bracts are used in arrangements.