Family: Mint (Lamiaceae) Hardy to Zones 4 to 10 (Wild Marjoram, Pot Marjoram, Common Oregano) Herbaceous perennial native to Asia, Europe and North Africa. Flowers in heady corymbs, with reddish bracts and purple corollas, to a height of 18 inches. Not to be confused with Greek Oregano (Origanum heracleoticum) which is more intensely flavored and flowers green/white. Traditional use (TWM): Culinary spice, flavoring agent, coloring agent, carminative and antiseptic. Colds, flu, indigestion, free radical scavenger. The flowering tops of this common oregano are also put into beer and ale as a flavoring and preservative. Plant prefers full sun and mesic to dry soil. We find that these, true to their wild name, like to escape the pretty bed and appear at will among the grasses, stones, and other microsites of our farm. They are always welcome, as their flowers are cheery, they tend to habituate spots that do not readily support more fragile plants, and as such they never impose. In the spring, sow seed on surface, press in firmly and keep warm and evenly moist until germination, which is rapid. Individuate seedlings to pots and grow on until sufficiently well established to survive transplant. Although these seeds are very small for direct-seeding, an assiduous gardener may be able to mix them with sand to stretch, then effectively sow them directly in the well-prepared seedbed. Thin or transplant to 1 foot apart. Packet contains 100 Seeds 1 g contains ~9,000 seeds Certified Organically Grown
