Oregano – Italian
Origanum vulgare 'Italian'

Zone: 4-8
Height: 12 - 16"
Description:

General: Aromatic, edible herb sometimes called marjoram. Grown as annual in northern climates. A staple in Italian cooking, fresh or dried. It has a sweet flavor but it's strong enough to stand up to bold flavors like beef, garlic and tomatoes.

Culinary Uses: The flavor of Italian oregano has a gently pungent flavor which makes a delicious contribution to savory meats and vegetables and gives a pleasant accent to cheese spreads, and is often a key ingredient to a good pizza sauce. It is a cross between sweet marjoram and the more piquant wild marjoram and it tastes like a blend of these parent herbs. The milder flavor makes it more versatile than Greek oregano - its not likely to overpower a recipe if you add more than intended. It can be used fresh or dried.

Medicinal Uses: Oregano is a great source of manganese and vitamin K, important in blood clotting and bone health. Disease fighting antioxidants are believed to help prevent and repair oxidative stress and heart disease. Oregano oil has even been reported to improve psoriasis.

Ornamental Uses: This is an easy to grow herb in well-drained soil. It forms attractive, clumping mounds of trailing branches with rounded aromatic light-green leaves. The spikes of the plant are topped with tiny white flowers. The herb itself is very versatile and can be planted at the edge of your herb garden, in the front of a border, or in a container.

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*Research all plants before use. Silverleaf doesn't condone or endorse any medicinal plant use. Any one planning to use plants for medical purposes should check with a physician first.