by Chris Winslow
‘Joy of the mountains.’ That’s how Greeks translate the word ore-
gano. How appropriate. This hardy member of the mint family has
delighted diners from ancient times with the uique flavor that it
brings to fish, meat and sauces.
Herbalists through the millennia have also sung its praises as a
powerful anti-oxidant.
There are native varieties of this herb growing all around the world,
and just about everywhere in Europe you can find cultivars of the
wild oregano (Oreganum vulgare). There’s a Greek oregano, Ital-
ian oregano, Turkish oregano, and even Sicily has its own oregano.
What’s important for gardeners to know is that with this huge range
to choose from, you’ll be able to find a variety that will perform
well in just about any location, and exposure in your central Texas
landscape and garden.
Oregano can work, for example, as a colorful groundcover, an ever-
green, a flowering ornamental, and of course as part of your herb
garden. On this side of the Atlantic, we have cultivars in Mexico,
Texas, and Cuba.
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Mexican oregano (Poliomentha longiflora): a beautiful spring
through fall flowering evergreen shrub that grows to a height of
3 feet, and has become a favorite for gardeners in the Austin area.
Its flowers are a pink to light lavender.
This is extremely drought and heat tolerant and the leaves have a
hot and spicy flavor. This oregano species is essential to authentic
Mexican cooking.
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Texas oregano (Lippia graveolens): this wild oregano grows in the
Trans-Pecos region of west Texas (west of Uvalde), in one of the
driest and hottest regions of the state. Its flavor is much stronger
than its European counterparts. Often it is substituted for the Mex-
ican herb epazote in regional dishes.
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Cuban oregano (Plectranthus amboinicus): a frost-tender herb
with beautiful variegated foliage. Cuban oregano is the only form
that I know of that thrives in the shade. The succulent, thick leaves
of this plant are strongly flavored and are commonly used as stuff-
ing for poultry and meat dishes. (See photo above)
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Besides growing in landscapes and gardens, all these oreganos can
easily be grown in containers and displayed on patios, decks, and
entryways. Just remember to keep one close to the kitchen
Happy Gardening Everyone! ❦
