Its taste is zesty and strong and is commonly used in Italian dishes. What Is An Annual, Perennial, And Biennial Plant. Once they are dried, you can use these to create unique house decorations. So I went to the local nursery, scoured reference books, and (of course) Googled—and learned that oregano is a much more interesting herb than I’d realized. The leaves of the oregano plants have a stronger aroma before the plants start blooming. This means that the owner of this website might be compensated for any qualifying purchases made via these links. Remodelista, Gardenista, 10 Easy Pieces, Steal This Look, 5 Quick Fixes, Design Sleuth, High/Low Design, Sourcebook for the Considered Home, and Sourcebook for Considered Living are ® registered trademarks of Remodelista, LLC. We have 200 guides on everything from fences to foxgloves. Anna BrownAdded: August 15, 2020Updated: August 15, 2020. Choose between seeds or clippings. The seeds need not be saved. However, that doesn’t mean they are not suitable to be used in culinary. Read on for everything you need to know about oregano. Oregano makes a good companion plant in the vegetable garden, repelling pests that commonly affect beans and broccoli. Greek oregano is a peppery herb with a loose, open growing habit. Native to Mediterranean climates, true oregano is a highly fragrant, slightly woody perennial herb with rosy purple or white flowers. They do not contain any toxic substances and can be safely consumed in many dishes. While most of us grow these herbs for their leaves, when they reach maturity, oregano plants develop flowers to produce seeds and to ensure the propagation of the plant. Should you just let these flowers grow, or would it be better if you pinch them off when they appear? Allow oregano plants to grow to roughly four inches tall and then pinch or prune lightly to encourage a bushier plant. That’s when the oregano flowers are more suitable to be used than the leaves of this plant. The definitive guide to stylish outdoor spaces, with garden tours, hardscape help, plant primers, and daily design news. Meet our editorial team, see our book, and get the inside scoop on upcoming Gardenista events. Deer and disease resistant, their long lasting flowers are always lovely and sometimes fabulous, even (or especially) in their dried stage, making them a welcome addition to the winter garden as well. Just make sure not to lose them because the oregano seeds are very tiny. After oregano blooms, it may produce seed. There are also ornamental oreganos like Origanum “Kent Beauty” and Hopley’s Purple Oregano. Receive the Gardenista newsletter in your inbox daily. Marjoram (Origanum majorana) is commonly used in Southern European and Middle Eastern recipes. Either way, I appreciated the gesture (and spicy aroma). Try growing oregano in pots where it happily spills over edges or plant it on a low wall. Once the flowers are ready, you can simply put them in a beautiful vase or use them in any of your DIY projects. While you can propagate the oregano plants from cuttings, another way to grow oregano is by seeds. What do you do with the flowers of your oregano plants? Shake the flowers with your finger and the seeds should just fall out if they are dried enough. So you may want to harvest some leaves before these herbs produce flowers. You can also use both flowers and leaves in combination. Oregano tea is rich in antioxidants, has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral effects, and can reduce stress and anxiety. Mediterranean Kitchen & Garden Delights Edible or ornamental, perennial oreganos are among my favorite easy-going border edgers. When using seeds, you can generally expect that roughly ¼ of the seeds … Seeds. At maturity, it is two feet tall, with small purple or white flowers and gray-green leaves. Clicking through to the retailer that sells the product may earn us a commission. While you can make tea with a more intense taste only by using the leaves of oregano, the drink made out of the flowers of this plant has a lighter taste. (This is also the best time to harvest leaves for drying.). One of my garden clients came back from vacationing in Spain and gave me some oregano that he had smuggled into the States. You can probably guess how it got its nickname (“Pizza Herb”). I’ll find a good use for the blooms afterward. Tag us using #gardenista. Oregano is an aromatic plant cultivated worldwide for its special taste that gives a distinctive flavor to many recipes. Browse our collection of more than 2,000 plants and seeds, which can be ordered directly from our favorite shops and growers. Besides possessing a zesty flavor, oregano also has antiviral properties. After all, I already had some perfectly fine oregano dried in my spice cupboard and growing in a pot out back. Many foods do not require a very powerful aromatic taste. Are the oregano flowers edible, or should you just discard them? Answer. When planting oregano, you can choose to do so from seed or opt for seedlings or plant that you have bought from nurseries and garden centres. All rights reserved. It can be kept indoor as other herbs. It can be used for culinary purposes, medicinal reasons, or as an ornamental plant. If dried in the right conditions, the flowerheads should keep their shape, petals, and color. The oregano flowers are small, grow in bouquets at the top of the stalks, and are typically white, pink, or light purple when they bloom. 1 2 3. Once the oregano has grown, you can reproduce it from the plant. See our obsessively curated catalog of favorite products sourced by the Gardenista editors. Oregano does not require as much water as most herbs. The flavor of dried oregano also can differ dramatically, depending on whether you’re tasting a variety from Greece, Italy, or the Middle East. The flowers are also especially attractive to pollinators. The ancient Greeks saw oregano’s purpose and value: The name translates into “joy of the mountain.” And oregano is more than just a way to spice a dish. Maybe I didn’t really know oregano. If you allow the oregano plants to reach maturity, they will make lots of flowers. Another usage for the flowers of oregano plants is for the preparation of teas. Attracting these types of insects to your garden is also beneficial for other plants that are not self-pollinating, hence, depending on pollinators to produce fruits and for reproduction. For culinary use, oregano has been used for centuries because of its robust scent and flavor. Or did I? Really, I thought? Starting from scratch or upgrading an outdoor space? Therefore, if you can’t find another use for these parts of the oregano plants, just leave them in their care.