The Mediterranean is where oregano comes from, which can tell you a lot about the conditions it likes to grow in. Picture a Greek hillside. If words like “dry,” “sunny,” and “sandy” came to mind, youre on the right track. Thats what we need to recreate for our oregano plants.
Oregano thrives in warm weather. At least six to eight weeks before it gets really hot or cold, plant oregano in your garden. This will give the plants time to get established. Most of the time, late spring or early summer is a good time to plant oregano in the garden.
Oregano grows best in sandy soil that drains well. To improve the soil for this herb, add some coarse sand from the construction section of the hardware store (not play sand). The roots should not stay wet for too long.
Oregano can grow with only 4 to 6 hours of sun, but if you give it full sun, it will have a lot more leaves.
Italian oregano is a pillar of Mediterranean cuisine, infusing pizzas, pastas, and more with its quintessential zesty flavor. But a key question puzzlers many home gardeners – is this beloved culinary herb actually a perennial? Let’s dig into the details to get to the bottom of this oregano mystery.
What is Italian Oregano?
Italian oregano specifically refers to a flavorful culinary variety of the oregano plant called Origanum vulgare hirtum. It is prized for the robust, peppery punch it brings to Mediterranean dishes.
Other names for this oregano include Greek oregano, true oregano, and European oregano. It’s characterized by rounded leaves with a distinctive spicy, earthy taste and odor. The white flowers bloom in mid-summer
This oregano variety is considered the “true” cooking oregano, preferred for its intense flavor over milder ornamental oreganos It’s a must for pizzas, pastas, tomato sauces, grilled meats, and Greek recipes
The Perennial Question
So is Italian oregano a perennial? The short answer is yes, it’s often grown as a perennial herb in suitable climates. However, that’s not the whole story.
Here’s a more nuanced look at Italian oregano’s perennial status:
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In zones 5-10, it grows reliably as a perennial, returning year after year. The key is providing well-drained soil and full sun.
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In zones 3-4 with very cold winters, gardeners often grow it as an annual that must be replanted each spring.
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Even in colder zones, established plants may survive winters if heavily mulched to insulate roots.
Growing as a Perennial
Where winters are mild, Italian oregano thrives for years as a carefree, low-maintenance perennial. Here are some tips:
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Plant in well-drained soil enriched with compost or manure. Good drainage prevents fungal diseases.
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Ensure a site with at least 6 hours of full sun for robust growth.
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Space plants 12-18 inches apart. They reach 12-24 inches tall and wide at maturity.
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After new growth appears in spring, prune lightly to shape plants and improve density.
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Water moderately when soil dries out. Let soil dry between waterings.
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Fertilize in early spring and again halfway through summer if growth seems weak.
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Mulch around plants in fall to insulate roots from extreme cold in zones 5-6.
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Every 2-3 years, dig up mature plants in spring and divide them to rejuvenate growth. Replant divisions 12 inches apart.
Growing as an Annual
Where winters plummet below zero, it’s best to grow Italian oregano as a fast-growing annual:
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Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last expected frost date. Harden off seedlings and transplant them outside after danger of frost is past.
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Choose a spot with full sun and fertile, well-draining soil. Enrich soil with organic material.
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Space plants 12 inches apart in rows 15-18 inches apart.
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Pinch back tips regularly to make plants bushier.
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Water when the top inch of soil becomes dry. Avoid wetting foliage.
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Fertilize monthly with a balanced liquid fertilizer once plants are established.
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Harvest leaves before first fall frost. Uproot spent plants and add to compost.
Caring for Potted Plants
Italian oregano also grows well in containers:
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Select a pot at least 10-12 inches wide with drainage holes. Use a quality potting mix.
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Place in full sun. Move pots to a sheltered spot for winter if bringing indoors.
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Water when soil surface feels dry. Allow soil to dry out between waterings.
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Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer monthly during the growing season.
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Prune often to keep plants compact. Pruning stimulates abundant leaf growth.
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Move indoor pots near a sunny window in winter. Allow soil to partially dry out between waterings.
Oregano Uses
Here are some tasty ways to use the flavorful leaves of Italian oregano:
- Fresh or dried in pasta sauce, pizza, bruschetta
- Mixed into olive oil for dipping bread
- Sprinkled on vegetables, meat, fish before grilling
- Part of a Greek salad dressing
- Component of herbed salt and spice rubs
- Steeped in vinegar for a flavorful marinade
- Added to omelets, meatloaf, mashed potatoes
The Takeaway
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The Best Oregano Companion Plants
Oregano makes a wonderful companion to so many things you might want to grow in a vegetable garden. Its strong fragrance can actually repel pests like mosquitos, aphids, and cabbage worms. Try planting it near leafy greens like kale, arugula, cabbage, and lettuce.
If you let your oregano flower, it will bring lots of good bugs to your garden, like bees and butterflies.
ITALIAN OREGANO Growing Tips and Information! (Origanum x majoricum)
FAQ
Does Italian oregano come back every year?
Does Italian oregano spread?
How hardy is Italian oregano?
What is the lifespan of Italian oregano?
Is oregano a perennial?
Here’s what to know. oregano A perennial plant lives more than two years and repeats its reproduction cycle over and over again: grow, flower, produce seeds, repeat. Roses, coneflower, and bee balm are good examples of perennial plants. They grow each year, flower, set seed, and repeat the process. hardy in USDA Zones 5–10
What is Italian oregano?
Italian oregano ( O. v. subsp. hirtum) is the oregano commonly used in Italian cuisine. Spicy oreganos include Greek oregano and Hot and Spicy Oregano ( O. v. ‘Hot & Spicy’ ). True to its Mediterranean origins, oregano grows best in lean, well-drained soil. It prefers to be dry . Too much water will reduce the flavor.
What is a spicy oregano plant?
The common oregano plant, Origanum vulgare, is usually labelled “oregano” and has little or no taste. Italian oregano ( O. v. subsp. hirtum) is the oregano commonly used in Italian cuisine. Spicy oreganos include Greek oregano and Hot and Spicy Oregano ( O. v. ‘Hot & Spicy’ ).
How big does oregano grow?
It’s a perennial woody herb that grows from 1 to 2 feet tall in an open, loose style that spreads to 18 inches wide (or more). It bears gray-green leaves and pretty white flowers, but do not let the herb flower for the best-tasting leaves. Oregano is hardy to zone 4 plant, though some gardeners say it’s only hardy to zone 5.
How long does oregano last?
Biennials have a two-year lifecycle, annuals have one year, and perennials live for more than two years. Some perennials can live for decades, but oregano is a perennial that lasts around 5-10 years in warm climates. There are numerous ornamental cultivars, but when people refer to oregano, they generally mean culinary origanum vulgare.
How do you know if oregano is a perennial?
light application of compost Oregano is a member of the mint family and inclined to spread into an oval-shaped patch about 4 feet across in only a few years. If your oregano is growing tall and leafy, and the patch is spreading, these signs indicate you’re meeting the conditions to grow it as a perennial.