Oregano
Origanum vulgare
Also called Wild marjoram
Garden plant · Herbs, veg & fruitThe drier and poorer the soil, the stronger the flavour. Rich ground makes it taste of nothing.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Easy
- Water
- Once a weekWater the ground — water at the base, in the morning, not over the leaves.
- Light
- Full sun
- Feed
- Every 60 days
- Humidity
- Low
- Hardiness
- Hardy — a very cold winter RHS H6, to -20°C
- Size
- 0.75 m tall · 0.75 m across
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Origin
- Mediterranean
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsToxic to pets
Affects dogs, cats, horses. Signs: mild vomiting and diarrhoea.
PeopleNothing recorded against it
Safe to eat: leaves.
Checked against ASPCA, RHS and Johnny's Selected Seeds on 2026-07-31.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
First signs of trouble
- Spring growth comes only from the outer ring of the clump; the middle stays bare and the old stems there lift out with blackened roots.Root rot in wet soil · disease
- Tightly packed green specks on the soft new shoot tips, with ants running up and down the stems below them.Aphid · pest