Botanical profile

Italian oregano

Latin name
Origanum × majoricum
Common name
Italian oregano
Type
Perennial
Family
Lamiaceae

Italian oregano is a perennial herb prized for its fragrant green foliage and its warm, herbaceous, and slightly peppery flavor. Widely used in Mediterranean cuisine, it is ideal for tomato sauces, pizzas, pasta, marinades, grilled meats, roasted vegetables, soups, dressings, and stews. Its compact, bushy habit makes it an excellent plant for herb gardens, vegetable patches, edible borders, and containers near the kitchen.

Easy to grow, Italian oregano prefers a full sun, warm, and well-ventilated location, in light, fertile, and very well-drained soil. Once well established, it tolerates drier conditions quite well, making it perfect for patio pots, rockeries, sunny flowerbeds, and Mediterranean-style landscaping. Regular harvesting of young stems promotes a denser, more branched, and more productive plant throughout the season.

Both aromatic, decorative, and useful for pollinators, Italian oregano produces delicate blooms that attract bees and other beneficial insects to the garden. Its leaves can be used fresh or dried, with the flavor often more concentrated after drying. It is an essential herb for gardeners looking for a flavorful, robust, and easy-to-care-for plant, perfect for adding an authentic Italian touch to homemade recipes.

Care guide

Care level
Easy

Choosing this plant

Main benefit
Balanced flavor ideal for sauces, pizzas, and Italian cuisine
Vegetable garden, herbs, border, rockery, container, Italian cuisine
Container growing
Excellent in pots in a well-drained container
Seasonal care
Prune after flowering to maintain a compact shape; harvest leaves before flowering for optimal flavor; cut back in spring
Growing conditions

Light, soil, water and hardiness

Hardiness zone
Zone 4 and above
Exposure
Full sun
Watering
Moderate; allow the soil surface to dry slightly between waterings
Humidity
Low to medium humidity; prefers well-drained soil
Fertilization
Light compost in spring; avoid excessive fertilizer
Soil type
Light to medium soil, rather dry and well-drained
Soil pH
Neutral to slightly alkaline
Minimum temperature
-20 °C
Propagation method
Sowing, division, or cuttings
Plant appearance

Blooming, foliage and shape

Blooming period
Summer
Flower color
Pale pink to mauve
Foliage color
Green
Foliage type
Deciduous to semi-evergreen
Shape
Bushy, spreading and aromatic habit
Garden structure

Size and growth

Height
30 to 60 cm (12 to 24 inches)
Width
30 to 45 cm (12 to 18 inches)
Growth rate
Average growth
Vegetable garden and yield

Companion planting, spacing and harvest

Companion plants
Thyme, basil, rosemary, sage
Spacing
30 to 45 cm (12 to 18 inches)
Harvest period
Leaves: June to September
Not recommended for pets
Not recommended for pets

Pets

Butterflies
Plants that attract butterflies

Butterflies

Deer
Less attractive or generally tolerated by deer

Deer

The availability of our plants varies depending on arrivals, seasons, nursery production and supplier availability. Some varieties may be offered for a limited time only, depending on their natural cycle or current stock. These plant profiles are designed to guide and inspire you when choosing plants for the garden, landscaping projects, containers or long-lasting outdoor arrangements.