Origanum vulgare L.
Oregano
Wild marjoram, the same species as the culinary oregano, is a native British perennial of the mint family with a warm, spicy aroma when the leaves are brushed. It forms bushy clumps of branching, often reddish stems clothed in small oval leaves, topped in summer and early autumn by rounded heads of tiny pink to purple flowers set among purplish bracts.
About
Wild marjoram, the same species as the culinary oregano, is a native British perennial of the mint family with a warm, spicy aroma when the leaves are brushed. It forms bushy clumps of branching, often reddish stems clothed in small oval leaves, topped in summer and early autumn by rounded heads of tiny pink to purple flowers set among purplish bracts.
It is a plant of dry, sunny ground, especially chalk and limestone grassland, banks, scrub edges and rocky places on well-drained, lime-rich soils. The flowers are exceptionally good for wildlife, attracting large numbers of bees, butterflies, hoverflies and moths, which makes wild marjoram one of the most useful nectar plants for calcareous meadows, sunny borders and pollinator seed mixes. It also doubles as a culinary herb, and its long flowering period and aromatic foliage add value well beyond its display.
Also known as
Wild Marjoram · winter sweet
Synonyms
Origanum creticum · Origanum floridum · Origanum purpurascens · Origanum wallichianum · Thymus origanum
In our seed mixes
- BFS 12 – Green Roof Wildflower Seed Mix
- BFS 120 – Wildlife Wildflower Seed Mix for Bees, Birds and Butterflies- 100% Flora
- BFS 130 – Flowering Grassless Lawn Wildflower Seed Mix – 100% Flora
- BFS 7 – Calcareous Grassland Wildflower Seed Mix
- BFS12(F) – Greenroof 100% Wildflower Seed Mix
- BFS7(F)- Calcareous Grassland 100% Wildflower Seed Mix
- UM13 – Treasure Trove Wildflower Mix
Beta — under active development. This catalogue is still being built and accuracy-checked. The information here (including plant identifications, British native status, soil and sun/shade preferences) is provided in good faith for general guidance only and may contain errors or omissions. It must not be relied upon on its own — please confirm details with us before making planting, specification, foraging or purchasing decisions, and never eat or medicinally use any plant based on this catalogue alone, as some species are toxic. To the extent permitted by law, Phoenix Amenity Supplies accepts no liability for any loss arising from use of this information.