Oregano
Origanum vulgare
An aromatic perennial herb with opposite oval leaves and clusters of small pink-purple or pale flowers. Fresh or dried leaves are used to season food. It is cultivated in Ontario herb gardens and is recorded outside cultivation in the regional checklist.
Native range
Europe and the Mediterranean region east into Asia; cultivated and naturalized elsewhere.
Typical season
Ontario's crop profile describes multiple leafy harvests from the same planting. Weather, planting age and cutting affect regrowth; no fixed local picking calendar is assigned.
Identification
Compare leaves, square stems, flower clusters and planting history. Scent alone does not identify a culinary herb. Sweet marjoram (Origanum majorana) and plants sold as Mexican oregano are different references. This profile does not cover essential oils or medicinal doses.