Origanum vulgare Aureum - Oregano

The Golden Oregano is a perennial plant with aromatic golden foliage that is very decorative. It is a creeping and non-invasive plant that quickly forms a beautiful dense cushion and displays clusters of small purple-pink flowers from July to September. It can be planted in ordinary to poor, even dry, well-drained soil, preferably in partial shade to fully enjoy its bright golden foliage. 

Origanum vulgare, better known as Oregano or Marjoram, is an aromatic bushy perennial with rapid growth. It is native to mountainous regions of the Mediterranean Basin and temperate Asia, and belongs to the Lamiaceae family. As a culinary herb, Oregano evokes the flavors of Mediterranean cuisine and the scents of the scrubland. The 'Aureum' cultivar forms a compact clump with a woody stump, very robust, about thirty centimetres in all directions, forming a dense creeping mat with an upright and spreading habit. It has small rounded to ovate semi-evergreen leaves that are bright golden in spring and chartreuse in mid-summer. Although less aromatic than the species, its foliage is remarkably ornamental. From July to September, this Golden Oregano displays compound panicles of small tubular flowers, 2 to 4mm (0in) long, in pale pink, surrounded by green bract leaves tinged with purple-violet. This Oregano attracts a wide range of pollinators and beneficial insects as it is a nectar-rich plant.

The leaves of Origanum vulgare are used in many Mediterranean dishes. It is particularly renowned in Italy for enhancing pasta, tomato sauces, and pizzas. The harvest of Oregano stems takes place from May to October, which are then dried in the shade before being stored in an airtight jar. The flavour of the leaves can vary considerably depending on the cultivar, climate, and soil type. Golden Oregano, for example, is more valued for its ornamental qualities than its culinary qualities. An excellent robust and hardy ground cover, its golden foliage will brighten up garden borders or vegetable garden surroundings. In regions with hot summer climates, it is advisable to choose a partially shaded location during the hottest hours of the day. Indeed, its golden foliage will be less spectacular in full sun. This Golden Oregano is perfectly suited for border plantings, partially shaded rockeries, but it will also be remarkable for embellishing a wall or slope. It can also be planted in pots, containers, or planters on a terrace or balcony. Golden Oregano is ideal in a simple garden bed, in a vegetable garden, or in an herb garden. It makes a fabulous companion plant for perennial plants with blue flowers, Lavenders, Iris germanica, and Shrubby Salvias.

Oregano is not only a renowned culinary herb, but it also has medicinal properties. Indeed, it has digestive, antispasmodic, tonic, and antiseptic qualities... In ancient Egypt, Oregano was used in preparations for embalming the dead.