Oregano, an herb with a robust scent and flavor, loves to grow in pots where it can spill over an edge of a pot or low wall. However, its trailing growth also makes it a good seasonal ground cover, or it can serve as a nice edging along a path. In late summer, enjoy Greek or Italian oregano’s white flowers against its bright-green leaves.
ONLY AVAILABLE as Local Pickup or Local Delivery in Northern and Central New Jersey, Metro New York City, Westchester, Rockland, Southern Orange Counties.
Bonnie Plants Oregano is a quintessential ingredient for classic Italian cuisine. Easy to grow in the garden or container, flavor is best just before plants flower.
Bonnie Plants Oregano thrives with lower humidity and well-drained soil. In the garden, use this oregano as an edging plant. Plants spread when happy, rooting along the stems. Harvest leaves or stems anytime during the growing season. Trim plants often to keep flower formation at bay.
- Light Full sun to part shade
- Type Perennial in zones 5 to 10
- Planting time Spring, fall
- Features Strongly aromatic and flavorful, dark green leaves, small white flowers
- Soil Moist but well drained, pH 6.5 to 8
- Plant spacing 12 to 18 inches apart
- Plant size 12 to 18 inches tall
- Garden use Herb garden, containers
- Culinary use Major ingredient in Italian cuisine
Quick Guide to Growing Oregano
- Plant oregano in spring, once all chances of frost have passed. The long stems look great spilling over the edges of containers and also work well as a ground cover.
- Space oregano plants 8 to 10 inches apart in a sunny spot with fertile, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.5 to 7.0. Offer partial shade if growing in warm climates.
- Give young plants fertile soil to take root in by mixing several inches of aged compost or other rich organic matter into your native soil.
- Keep soil consistently moist and water when the top inch becomes dry.
- Encourage fabulous leaf production by regularly feeding with a water-soluble plant food.
- Once oregano is established, harvest sprigs with sharp gardening shears. Feel free to harvest often to promote new growth, but avoid pruning more than one-third of the plant at a time.
How to Use Oregano
The “secret” ingredient in Aunt Bee’s spaghetti sauce, oregano adds deep flavor to Italian or Greek dishes, meat, fish, eggs, cheese, tomatoes, and vegetables such as beans and zucchini. A light sprinkling over a green salad before dressing it is a tasty enhancement. Oregano does not hold up well to prolonged cooking when used fresh, so add fresh leaves at the end of the cooking process or use dried leaves for sauces or anything that requires lengthy simmering. Dried oregano flower stalks may be used in craft-making (e.g. wreaths).