Origanum vulgare - Oregano

<strong>Oregano is a culinary, aromatic</strong> and <strong>medicinal plant</strong> cultivated for its fragrant leaves <strong>and</strong> its lovely <strong>melliferous flowering</strong>. Consumed since antiquity, wild marjoram was already used for its medicinal properties as well as its aromatic scent. Oregano was believed to possess protective and enchanting powers. For this reason, it was a plant used in the making of love potions. Today, <strong>oregano is a herb widely used in Portuguese and Italian cuisine</strong>. However, it is somewhat overlooked by the French, who often prefer <a href="https://en.promessedefleurs.eu/vegetable-gardens/vegetable-seeds/herb-seeds/common-marjoram-vilmorin-seeds-seeds.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">common marjoram</a>, a cousin of oregano. <strong>The leaves of wild marjoram can be used fresh or dried to flavour many dishes</strong>, and are part of the traditional herb bouquet of Provence. At first glance, oregano may seem like a modest plant, but this does not account for <strong>its stunning melliferous flowering</strong>. From July to October, oregano <strong>is a remarkable host</strong> <strong>for garden insects</strong>. <strong>Its flowers are</strong> particularly <strong>beloved by butterflies</strong>. During this same period, clusters of small white, pink, or purple flowers brighten up slopes, roadside edges, and dry land. <img class="aligncenter wp-image-89333" src="https://www.promessedefleurs.com/blogwp/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Origan-plante-mellifere.jpg" alt="Oregano, a plant with melliferous flowering" width="1172" height="780" /> <strong>Very resilient, wild marjoram is an easy-to-cultivate plant</strong> that withstands both the intense summer heat and altitude temperatures approaching -15°C. It is worth noting that the ancient Greek term for oregano means "that which thrives in the mountains." <em>Origanum vulgare</em>, or <strong>common oregano</strong>, <strong>particularly enjoys</strong> <strong>sunny exposures</strong>, as well as <strong>well-drained, poor, and light soils</strong>, even stony ones. Limestone does not hinder its development. <strong>Only wet and clayey soils seem to be to oregano's disliking</strong>.