Oregano is a wonderful herb, with many uses, and it is easy to grow in our landscapes here in the Southwest.

Why Grow Oregano?

Oregano makes a pleasing landscape plant. It grows as a clumping groundcover in low upright clumps. The leaves are a dusky lime green, so not the bright green of a lawn, but also not the coarse needle blue-green of rosemary.

I recently discussed wildlife resistant groundcovers, and you can add oregano to that plant list. Indeed, the javelina stroll past several plantings of oregano in my yard on a daily basis. The bunnies hop right on by, and lizards scurry into cover under it’s leaves. 

Best of all, when oregano is in bloom, all manner of native bees can be found harvesting both pollen an nectar, right alongside some European honey bees and passing butterflies.  Add it to the pollinator plant list too! Opps – sorry.  Have to build that page.

What’s in A Name? A note from the Botany Nerd

The name oregano comes to us from two Greek words. Oros = mountain and ganos = joy, together meaning this plant is a joy of the mountains. Newer dictionaries argue about this, but the botanists know better.

The greatest diversity of a species is found nearest to the center of origin of the species. We term this “center of diversity.”  Darwin and many others noted this, and it has stood the test of time for centuries now. The center of diversity for oregano clearly demonstrates to botanists that the plant is indeed from the mountains of the eastern Mediterranean. We’ll come back to this in the species discussion below.

Many Things Called Oregano

There are many things called oregano, including some I have written about here, like oreganillo (Aloysia wrightii), also called Mexican oregano. Most confusingly there are a number of “Mexican oregano.” The list includes Lippia graveolens, Lippia micromera, Poliomintha bustamanta, Poliomintha longiflora, and even Salvia leucantha. Not to mention there’s a Andean oregano (Porophyllum ruderale), and Cuban oregano (Plectranthus amboinicus). I have no doubt that I am missing a few.

The oregano I am writing about today is the original joy of the mountains oregano from the dry mountains of the eastern Mediterranean, including present day Greece, Turkey, and Kurdistan, this is Oreganum vulgare, the vulgare or “common” oregano.

Which Oregano to Grow?

Oregano comes in many species, subspecies and varieties. For the best type able to grow here in the our region, go with the one they grow commercially in Greece and Turkey, commonly known as “Greek oregano” (Origanum vulgare subspecies hirtum). [hirtum means hairy]

Yes, this species is even good in the Upper Elevations of the Southwest – Zone 4. It does snow in the mountains in Greece. That said, the Upper Elevation gardeners could also grow the straight species or common oregano, Origanum vulgare.

Other species you may come across include Turkish or Cretan oregano (Origanum onites). Indeed, you may run across marjoram (Origanum majorana) or even Italian oregano (Origanum X majoricum). These have their place in the kitchen and in the garden, but don’t plant them next to Greek oregano. The more vigorous Greek oregano will over run the others.

Since many nurseries do not label their plants with correct scientific names, look at the leaves. The one you want will have smallish leaves with silvery hairs on them. When you rub a leaf between your fingers, it should release a strong fragrance of oregano. Avoid the oreganos that are mildly scented, musky scented, or have large, not very hairy leaves. They tend to not survive very well in the dry air of the Southwest.

How to Grow Oregano

Due to it’s origins, oregano is “pre-adapted” to live in all but the hottest parts of the Southwest. It doesn’t mind drought, low humidity, alkaline soils.  That said, much over 108F is a bit much for oregano because Greece is close to the heat-tempering ocean sir.  Oregano will need some extra water – or afternoon shade in the hottest gardens.

 

Light

In general, full sun is fine in all but the Low Desert. Phoenix and Yuma gardeners should plant oregano where it get some afternoon shade in summer.

Soil

Remember the genes in this oregano as you go to plant it. Picture a rocky Greek mountain side. Rocky or sandy soil works well. It will like nice garden soil too. Just not clay soils that don’t drain well.

Water

Once established, don’t overwater oregano. It is in the Mint Family. Like mint, you need to be careful to not overwater oregano because it will spread like mint. Unlike mint, oregano could drown if it stays in wet soils too long.

Extra water and spreading nature is not necessarily a bad thing for a landscape plant. After all – the title of this article is groundcover – you want some spreading!  I have planted oregano by a flagstone walkway, and when it gets too rampant, it gets walked on and kept in line. Plus it smells great.

Harvest

Like many herbs, the best time to harvest oregano is just before it blooms. Many herbs increase their production of essential oils as they go into bloom since it is a time when they really need to protect themselves from depredation by insects or deer.

When you first start growing oregano, “harvest” may mean pinching a few stalks back with your fingers. Once your patch gets larger, trim it right down with strong kitchen scissors or pruners. Trim to about two inches high, so it forms a low mat of leaves. Don’t worry, it will get tall again.

Preserve

Dry all herbs out of direct sunlight. I spread the cut stems on top of folded paper bags placed on top of the bookshelves. A ceiling fan running during the day helps dry them quickly. The quicker the drying, the less breakdown of leaf material there is, and thus the sweeter the flavor and less bitter the background notes. More about drying herbs.

Many Uses

The following is for informational purposes only.

Besides its culinary uses, oregano is used by many people medicinally. It is considered by some to be an antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiparasitic. People say oil of oregano can be used to increase joint and muscle flexibility, improve respiratory health, and a number of other things.

The medicinal properties or oregano appear to be from high concentrations of thymol and carvacrol. Caution is needed since carvacrol appears to reduce the body’s ability to absorb iron. Moderation is, as always, important.

One homesteader I know grows oregano for her chickens. She cuts several hands full and places it in their coop. A ruckus ensues in the flock as some oregano is gobbled down, much is rolled in, and some of the cut sprigs are carried off to the chickens nesting boxes. She says the fresh oregano seems to keep them healthy and free of feather lice.

More uses on Savor the Southwest.  (goes up on Wed 10 Sept. 2025)

Live Green – Grow Oregano!

Growing your own oregano reduces the demand for commercially produced product. This helps reduce your carbon footprint while you benefit with the freshest, most delightfully flavored oregano you can get. And local too – can’t get more local than your own back yard!

Some dried oregano makes a lovely gift from the garden. I dry lots of my oregano every year, and give it as gifts at the holidays. Friends seem to quickly use it up and clamor for more.

More Herbs to Grow – 25 Native & 25 European

The last few copies of this out-of-print award winning Southwestern book are now for sale. Father Kino’s Herbs: Growing and Using Them Today   The review says:

“Award-winning garden writer Dr. Jacqueline A. Soule has pulled together a fascinating book on the life of Father Eusebio Francisco Kino and some of the plants that he brought to Southern Arizona and northwestern Sonora, and area called the Pimeria Alta.”

This link is to our sales site. The profits from the sale go to the local Horticulture Therapy non-profit Tierra del Sol Institute.  We hope you will help support this great Southwest non-profit!

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Disclaimer

The authors of this website have researched the edibility of the materials we discuss, however, humans vary in their ability to tolerate different foods, drinks, and herbs. Individuals consuming flowers, plants, animals or derivatives mentioned in this blog do so entirely at their own risk. The authors on this site cannot be held responsible for any adverse reaction. In case of doubt please consult your medical practitioner.