Practical
Plants

Origanum vulgare hirtum

Greek Oregano

a perennial member of the Origanum genus in the family Labiatae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Family
Labiatae
Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.6 m
Spread
0.6 m
Fertility
Bees, Lepidoptera
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Lepidoptera

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Leaves - raw or cooked as a potherb[25][27][8]. Oregano is an important flavouring herb in Mediterranean cookery, and is often used dried rather than fresh[16]. This sub-species has a much stronger flavour than the type[16]. The leaves are used as a flavouring for salad dressings, vegetables and legumes, and are frequently included in strongly flavoured dishes with chillies, garlic, onions etc[9][4][13][20][8][16]. A nutritional analysis is available[14]. Much of the commercially available dried oregano does not come from this plant but from a number of different, often unrelated plants[16]. These include Lippia graveolens, L. palmeri and Origanum syriacum[16]. A herb tea is made from the dried leaves and flowering stems[8][12][16].

Product or use
Condiment
Plant part
Leaves

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Oregano has been used as a culinary and medicinal herb for thousands of years. It has a beneficial effect upon the digestive and respiratory systems and is also used to promote menstruation[19]. It should not be used medicinally by pregnant women though it is perfectly safe in small amounts for culinary purposes[19]. The leaves and flowering stems are strongly antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative, cholagogue, diaphoretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, stimulant, stomachic and mildly tonic[23][28][29][13][19]. The plant is taken internally in the treatment of colds, influenza, mild feverish illnesses, indigestion, stomach upsets and painful menstruation[16]. It is strongly sedative and should not be taken in large doses, though mild teas have a soothing effect and aid restful sleep[18]. It should not be prescribed for pregnant women[16]. Externally, oregano is used to treat bronchitis, asthma, arthritis and muscular pain[16]. The plant can be used fresh or dried - harvest the whole plant (but not the roots) in late summer to dry and store for winter use[18]. Oregano is often used in the form of an essential oil that is distilled from the flowering plant[23]. A few drops of the essential oil, put on cotton wool and placed in the hollow of an aching tooth, frequently relieves the pain of toothache[23][12]. This plant is one of the best natural antiseptics because of its high thymol content[28]. The essential oil is used in aromatherapy to treat the same kinds of complaints that the herb is used for[16].

Product or use
Antiseptic
Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Carminative
Product or use
Cholagogue
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Emmenagogue
Product or use
Expectorant
Product or use
Stimulant
Product or use
Stomachic
Product or use
Tonic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An essential oil from the plant is used as a food flavouring, in soaps and perfumery[3][7]. A red or purple dye is obtained from the flowering tops[23][28][4][2], it is neither brilliant nor durable[3]. The plant repels ants[24]. A useful ground cover for sunny positions, forming a slowly spreading clump[197, K].

Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Essential
Product or use
Repellent

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Soil surface

Ground cover

Environment

Range
S. Europe - Greece.
Habitat
Dry places in mountain regions in bushy places and on stony ground[26][6].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
high wind
Wind
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow early spring at 10 - 13°c and only just cover the seed. Germination usually takes place within 2 weeks. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer. The seed can also be sown in situ in late spring. Division in March or October. Very easy, larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer. Basal cuttings of young barren shoots in June. Very easy. Harvest the shoots with plenty of underground stem when they are about 8 - 10cm above the ground. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a rather dry, warm, well-drained soil in full sun, but is not fussy as to soil type, thriving on chalk[1][20]. Prefers slightly alkaline conditions[11]. Tolerates poor soils[17]. Dislikes wet soils[22]. Often cultivated as a culinary herb, this is a sub-species from Greece, its flowers are white and it has a stronger fragrance. It is more commonly grown commercially because of its stronger fragrance. There are some named forms[8]. Plants growing near the sea have the most fragrance[28]. A good companion plant, improving the flavour of nearby plants. The flowers are very attractive to bees and butterflies[25][21]. A good companion for the cucumber family[5], it is beneficial to all nearby plants[10]. The whole plant is strongly aromatic. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[15].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969-00-00 ISBN 0192176218

    ↩

  3. Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain.

    ↩1↩2

  4. Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3

    ↩1↩2

  5. Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-87857-262-7

    ↩

  6. Niebuhr. A. D. Herbs of Greece. Herb Society of America. 1970-00-00

    ↩

  7. Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00

    ↩

  8. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  9. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

  10. Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978-00-00 ISBN 0-88266-064-0

    ↩

  11. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩

  12. Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6

    ↩1↩2

  13. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩1↩2

  14. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩

  15. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩

  16. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10

  17. Baines. C. Making a Wildlife Garden.

    ↩

  18. Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30725-8

    ↩1↩2

  19. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2↩3

  20. Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press ISBN 0-89815-041-8

    ↩1↩2

  21. Carter D. Butterflies and Moths in Britain and Europe. Pan 1982-00-00 ISBN 0-330-26642-x

    ↩

  22. Thompson. B. The Gardener's Assistant. Blackie and Son. 1878-00-00

    ↩

  23. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  24. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  25. Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219060-5

    ↩1↩2

  26. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

    ↩

  27. Larkcom. J. Salads all the Year Round. Hamlyn 1980-00-00

    ↩

  28. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  29. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩

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