home/ plants/ oregano

// SPECIES PROFILE · FOOD CROP · CULTIVATED

Oregano

Origanum vulgare

Oregano (Origanum vulgare) is a cultivated perennial food crop grown for its edible leaf, flower. Family: Lamiaceae (mint family). Originally from Mediterranean & Western Asia. Hardy in zones 4a–9a. Mature size 1'–2'. Harvest in northeastern Oklahoma: Apr–Oct.

// QUICK FACTS
Family
Lamiaceae (mint family)
Group
crop · perennial
Origin
Mediterranean & Western Asia · cultivated
USDA zones
Zones 4a–9a
Mature size
1'–2'
Sun
Full sun
Water
Low · xeric
Edible parts
leaf, flower
Harvest (NE OK)
Apr–Oct
Garden role
hardy Mediterranean herb · long summer bloom for pollinators · spreads gently
Oregano (Origanum vulgare)
Origanum vulgare — Oregano. Photo by Ivar Leidus via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Field Notes

[ growing · ecology · siting · care ]

Oregano (Origanum vulgare) is a cultivated perennial food crop grown for its edible leaf, flower. Family: Lamiaceae (mint family). Originally from Mediterranean & Western Asia. Hardy in zones 4a–9a. Mature size 1'–2'. Harvest in northeastern Oklahoma: Apr–Oct. Low water use makes it a strong candidate for xeric and drought-conscious plantings.

Why it's on this list: hardy Mediterranean herb · long summer bloom for pollinators · spreads gently. A cultivated food crop — not a native — grown alongside regional natives in Rooted Revival's kitchen-garden and food-forest designs. Harvest windows are for northeastern Oklahoma (USDA zone 7a).

Companion Planting

[ guild · polyculture · cross-layer pairings ]

In a kitchen garden or food-forest guild, oregano pairs well with: Thyme (Thymus vulgaris), Bell Pepper (Capsicum annuum (Grossum Group)), Heirloom Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), Basil (Ocimum basilicum).

← All species