‘Joy of the mountains.’ That’s how Greeks translate the word oregano.

How appropriate. This hardy member of the mint family has delighted

diners from ancient times with the unique 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, Italian 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 evergreen,

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.

 

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.

 

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 Mexican herb epazote in regional dishes.

 

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 stuffing for poultry and meat dishes.

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!

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