Plants
Oregano
Origanum vulgare · Lamiaceae
Oregano is the pizza herb par excellence — and at the same time a robust perennial that thrives in beds and balcony boxes in our climate too. Harvested fresh from the pot it tastes far livelier than dried supermarket stock. We source our herb pots in sturdy nursery quality via the Veiling Rhein-Maas, well branched rather than forced.
- Light
- Full sun, at least five to six hours a day.
- Watering
- Moderate — let the soil dry a little, avoid waterlogging at all costs.
- Care level
- Easy
- Botanical
- Origanum vulgare
Botanically, oregano is wild marjoram, Origanum vulgare — not to be confused with the annual, milder sweet marjoram (Origanum majorana). There are also intensely aromatic selections such as Greek oregano (var. hirtum) plus ornamental forms with golden or compact growth.
Oregano only develops its full aroma in a sunny, lean spot: the poorer the soil, the higher the content of essential oils. In rich, moist soil it grows lush but tastes flat — a classic herb-box mistake.
The best harvest time is just before flowering, when the flavour is strongest. Unlike basil, oregano actually gains aroma when dried, so a summer cut for bundling and hanging is well worth it.
The pink to purple flower heads are not only edible but an excellent forage plant for bees and butterflies. In floristry we like flowering oregano — also traded as cut stems under the name Origanum — in rustic summer bouquets; the variety Kirigami is well known for this.
As a hardy perennial, oregano returns in the bed for years. In a pot it needs free-draining soil, a drainage hole and a sheltered spot in winter; cutting back in spring encourages fresh, compact growth.
Is Oregano toxic to children and pets?
- Children
- Non-toxic
- Cats
- Mildly irritating
- Dogs
- Mildly irritating
For people, oregano is a harmless culinary herb. In cats and dogs the essential oils can cause gastrointestinal irritation in larger amounts — seasoning quantities are uncritical, but pets should be kept from grazing on the plant.
Typical symptoms: In pets after larger amounts: drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea.
In an emergency:call the German poison control centre in Bonn on +49 228 19240 (24/7) — for pets, contact an emergency vet directly. This information does not replace medical or veterinary advice.
Overview: toxic & non-toxic plants for cats, dogs and children
Care
- 01A fully sunny spot — oregano needs sun to build its aroma.
- 02Water moderately; it copes better with short dry spells than with wet feet.
- 03Use lean, free-draining herb compost and feed hardly at all.
- 04Harvest or pinch out regularly to keep the plant bushy.
- 05Cut and dry just before flowering — that is when the flavour peaks.
- 06Hardy in the bed; keep potted plants sheltered and on the dry side in winter.
Frequently asked
- What is the difference between oregano and marjoram?
- Both belong to the genus Origanum but are different species. Oregano (Origanum vulgare) is perennial, hardy and robustly savoury; sweet marjoram (Origanum majorana) is grown as an annual here and is much milder and sweeter. In the kitchen they are not freely interchangeable.
- Is oregano hardy?
- Yes, Origanum vulgare is reliably hardy in the bed and reshoots every spring. In a pot the root ball is more exposed to frost: move it against the house wall, raise it on pot feet and keep it only moderately moist through winter.
- Is oregano toxic to cats and dogs?
- In larger amounts, yes, mildly. The essential oils can cause drooling, vomiting or diarrhoea in cats and dogs. Small seasoning amounts in food are considered uncritical, but the potted plant should be kept out of reach of nibbling pets.
- When is the best time to harvest oregano?
- Just before flowering, usually in June or July, the essential oil content is at its peak. Cut whole shoots a hand-width above the soil, bundle them and hang them upside down to dry in an airy spot — dried oregano is even more aromatic than fresh.