National Plant Collection of Origanum vulgare cvs.

National Plant Collection® of Origanum vulgare cvs.

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plants being sold at the Friends of Treborth Botanic Garden plant sales 2026

Oregano has the botanical name of Origanum vulgare and is found naturally over a wide area of Europe and Asia. There are therefore some regional differences and some of these have been brought into general cultivation. Then different variations have sprung up in propagation for retail sale and have found a market. So there are a number of named cultivars (cultivated varieties, cvs. for short) that can be found if you search Specialist Nurseries or Herb Farms. The native UK species is often called wild marjoram, as are other species around the Mediterranean. However in culinary terms marjoram is Origanum majorana, which has the common name of sweet marjoram, or knotted marjoram. There is another common name in use, pot marjoram, which refers to Origanum onites, originally from the eastern Mediterranean, but now in widespread cutivation. This latter common name has in very recent years been used in association with Origanum vulgare, both in print and by well-known herb growers. One can only conclude a mis-naming has been picked and continued instead of being corrected. Not surprising as the two species are extremely similar, so the pot marjoram you buy may actually be oregano.

A small range of oregano cultivars have been donated to the Friends of Treborth Botanic Garden Plant Sale to help support the Botanic Garden and to make a wider range of cultivars available generally to the public. (There will be a greater selection available next year.) ALL cultivated forms of oregano sold ARE edible. The Mediterranean forms have a different, stronger flavour, as 'Hot and Spicy' implies.

If you have more that one oregano in your garden then beware that they cross-pollinate readily and produce a lot of seed, so any seedlings found are unlikely to be the cultivar you first bought. To avoid this cut the flowerheads down as they go over and before the tiny seeds form. Origanum vulgare 'Aureum', golden oregano, although sometimes also called golden marjoram, in my experience seems to came true from seed if kept by itself, something that cannot be guaranteed for any others that may be hybrids and produce a range of offspring. [Note: Two major wholesalers supplying plants to local sources have been selling a different cultivar as 'Aureum', gold oregano/marjoram, similar in appearance to 'Acorn Bank' but so far not the same. But Farplants and Grown in Wales plants do seem be correct.]

If you want more plants then the best way is to divide the plant during the active growing season. The thick fibrous root system allows a degree of rough action. My plants are mostly in 10"/10litre pots and I just saw the whole plant in half or quarters with a short bladed joinery saw and replant with some good quality new compost. If the split section is small give it some TLC for a couple of months.

Generally specking all forms of pretty temperature hardy, but add our usual winter rain long windy periods, and some do sulk. I have found 'Country Cream' to do this and I would find a more sheltered spot for this one.

Please note that I am not a commercial producer of plants and would prefer you to get your rarer oreganos from specialist nurseries, listed elsewhere on this website. However if you can't find what you want I am prepared to propagate to order, if you are prepared to wait, maybe up to 12 months!

Plants that were for sale:

Origanum vulgare Unknown cultivar

Origanum vulgare ‘Gold Splash’

Origanum vulgare ‘Margaritta’

Origanum vulgare ‘Pink Thumbles’

Origanum vulgare "Variegated" [looks the same as Origanum vulgare 'Polyphant', not Origanum vulgare 'Country Cream']