Pollinator plant

Oregano

Origanum vulgare

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Common names

17 names

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

English
Dutch
  • Oregano
  • Palingkruid
  • Wilde marjolein[2]
French
  • Origan
  • Origan commun[2]
German
  • Echter Dost[2]
  • Gewöhnlicher Dost[2]
  • Oregano[2]
  • Wilder Majoran[2]
Italian
  • Origano comune[2]
Portuguese
Spanish
  • Orégano del Mediterráneo[2]

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

[1] Origanum vulgare — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Oregano — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Origanum vulgare.
  • English Marjoram — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Origanum vulgare.
  • Winter sweet — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Origanum vulgare.
[2] Origanum vulgare — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Oregano — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 61396; Origanum vulgare.
  • Wilde marjolein — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 61396; Origanum vulgare.
  • Echter Dost — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 61396; Origanum vulgare.
  • Gewöhnlicher Dost — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 61396; Origanum vulgare.
  • Oregano — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 61396; Origanum vulgare.
  • Wilder Majoran — results[0].names[46]; taxon id 61396; Origanum vulgare.
  • Wild Marjoram — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 61396; Origanum vulgare.
  • Orégano del Mediterráneo — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 61396; Origanum vulgare.
  • Origan commun — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 61396; Origanum vulgare.
  • Origano comune — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 61396; Origanum vulgare.
  • Orégão — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 61396; Origanum vulgare.
[3] Royal Horticultural Society — common names ↗

Names retained from the referenced botanical profile or table.

Source records
  • wild marjoram — Page 2, column 1, row top 202 pt; common-name cell after Origanum vulgare.; Origanum vulgare.
[4] Royal Horticultural Society — common names ↗

Names retained from the referenced botanical profile or table.

Source records
  • wild marjoram — Page 4, column 1, row top 262 pt; common-name cell after Origanum vulgare.; Origanum vulgare.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Origanum vulgare is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Lamiaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
0.3–0.91 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
0.3–0.61 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Cascading; Horizontal; Multi-stemmed; Spreading

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Perennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Medium

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Deciduous

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist; Occasionally Dry

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Spring; Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Native range
Europe, Macaronesia to China

NC State Extension profile. Origin reported by the source; this is not a claim of local nativeness.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: bees, butterflies, moths, pollinators.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Pollinator guidance
RHS includes Origanum vulgare in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.

RHS planting guidance. Choose accessible flowers with pollen and nectar; reduced-resource and double-flowered forms may be unsuitable.

Sources [3] [4]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

High suitability
Nectar value High
Pollen value High
Agroforestry database

Complete plant information

Open full plant profile

Structure

Vegetation layer
Herbaceous, Ground cover
Size
Small
Dimensions
0.60 m high × 0.80 m wide
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifecycle
Perennial

Site conditions

USDA hardiness
4-10
Moisture
Well-drained, Moist
Soil
Sandy, Loamy, Clay
pH
Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
Light
Partial shade, Sun

Uses

Edible parts
Leaves, Tea
Functions
Dye, Essential oil, Parasiticide, Repellent, Pollinator plant, Ground cover, Fragrant
Edibility
4 out of 5
Medicinal value
3 out of 5

Leaves can be eaten both raw and cooked as a vegetable. Oregano is an important herb in Mediterranean cuisine and is often used instead of fresh oregano in dishes. The leaves are commonly used in salad dressings, vegetables, legumes, and in dishes with chili peppers, garlic, and onions. It is common for commercially available dried oregano to come from different plants such as Lippia graveolens, L. Palmeri, and Origanum Syriacum, which are not related to the oregano plant. The dried leaves and flowering stems can be used to make herbal tea.

Sources and references

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

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Origanum vulgare — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 2364232; ID 6T7B5; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 2364232; ID 6T7B5; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Origanum vulgare — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonNative rangeReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Native range: Country Or Region Of Origin
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Wildflowers

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 4, column 1, entry Origanum vulgare (top 262 pt)

    Source checked on .

  4. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Plants Of The World

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 2, column 1, entry Origanum vulgare (top 202 pt)

    Source checked on .