Plant Details

Origanum majorana

Sweet Marjoram

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Common names

29 names · 23 languages
EnglishYour language
Other languages (22)
Dutch
  • Echte marjolein[2]
  • Worstkruid
French
  • Marjolaine[2]
Asturian
Catalan
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • majoránka zahradní[2]
Estonian
  • aedmajoraan[2]
  • vorstirohi[2]
Finnish
  • maustemeirami[2]
German
  • Garten-Majoran[1]
  • Majoran[2]
Greek
  • Ματζουράνα[2]
Hebrew
  • מיורן (אזובית תרבותית)[2]
Hindi
  • मरवा[2]
  • मरुआ[2]
Hungarian
Italian
  • Maggiorana[2]
  • Origano maggiorana[2]
Japanese
  • マジョラム[2]
Portuguese
Russian
  • Майоран садовый[2]
Slovak
  • majorán záhradný[2]
Spanish
Swedish
Turkish
  • Mercanköşk[2]
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Origanum majorana L. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Garten-Majoran (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 159701; taxon 74TMF.
  • Sweet marjoram (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 159702; taxon 74TMF.
[2] Origanum majorana — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Mejorana — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 165925; Origanum majorana.
  • Sweet Marjoram — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 165925; Origanum majorana.
  • Manjerona — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 165925; Origanum majorana.
  • majoránka zahradní — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 165925; Origanum majorana.
  • Majoran — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 165925; Origanum majorana.
  • aedmajoraan — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 165925; Origanum majorana.
  • vorstirohi — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 165925; Origanum majorana.
  • maustemeirami — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 165925; Origanum majorana.
  • Echte marjolein — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 165925; Origanum majorana.
  • almoradus — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 165925; Origanum majorana.
  • マジョラム — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 165925; Origanum majorana.
  • Ματζουράνα — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 165925; Origanum majorana.
  • Maggiorana — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 165925; Origanum majorana.
  • Origano maggiorana — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 165925; Origanum majorana.
  • Mercanköşk — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 165925; Origanum majorana.
  • mejram — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 165925; Origanum majorana.
  • 馬鬱蘭 — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 165925; Origanum majorana.
  • Marjolaine — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 165925; Origanum majorana.
  • Майоран садовый — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 165925; Origanum majorana.
  • מיורן (אזובית תרבותית) — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 165925; Origanum majorana.
  • majoranna — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 165925; Origanum majorana.
  • 墨角兰 — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 165925; Origanum majorana.
  • 甘牛至 — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 165925; Origanum majorana.
  • मरवा — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 165925; Origanum majorana.
  • मरुआ — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 165925; Origanum majorana.
  • majorán záhradný — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 165925; Origanum majorana.
  • Marduix — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 165925; Origanum majorana.

General information

Scientific name: Origanum majorana
Accepted name (Kew): Origanum majorana L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Lamiaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Origanum (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Sweet Marjoram
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous, Ground cover
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.3–0.61 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 0.3–0.61 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Moderate
Sources [3]
Foliage: None
Growth habit: Dense, Mounding, Multi-stemmed, Spreading

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]
Life cycle: Annual, Perennial
Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Occasionally Dry

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow Rocky
Sources [3]
pH:
Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Full sun
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, Tea, Condiment
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(3)
Functions:
Dye, Essential oil, Bee forage, Fragrant

Description

Leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. Marjoram is popular as a flavoring in salad dressings, vegetable dishes, legumes, and oils. It has a subtler flavor than its close relative oregano (Origanum vulgare) and is best used fresh, preferably added at the end of the cooking time. The fragrant seeds are often used as a flavoring in candies, drinks, and more. Fresh or dried leaves can be used to make an herbal tea. The flavor is compared to a mix of thyme, rosemary, and sage.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/07
Harvest ends: 30/09

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1066134; name ID 143731; Origanum L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 129374; name ID 143853; Origanum majorana L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Origanum majorana

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 2554577, ID 74TMF: Origanum majorana L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Origanum majorana — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .