It is considered to be an Italian herb, but since it was popularized in America in the late 1940s, oregano, Origanum vulgare, has become more popular in Italian-American cuisine than it is in Italy. It is now the traditional ‘pizza herb’ for American style pizza. Oregano happens to be one of the few herbs that is preferred dried rather than fresh. Only foliage is used, either before or after bloom.
Prior to bloom, foliage is low to the ground, on wiry stems. Blooming stems stand vertically as tall as two feet, with more foliage and tiny purplish flowers that are not very flashy. The flavor of the foliage on the upright blooming stems is distinct from that of the prostrate vegetative stems. The opposite leaves are only about an inch long, or slightly longer. Flavor can be variable with weather.
Flavor is also variable by cultivar. Some are spicier than most. Some are more bitter. Some cultivars were marketed to be more visually appealing in the garden than flavorful in the kitchen. ‘Nana’ is a dwarf. ‘Aureum’ is variegated with yellow. The famously flavored ‘Greek Kaliteri’ has compact growth, with atypically thick and slightly fuzzy leaves that are dark on top and purplish underneath.
Tony Tomeo 
Great into, as always, Tony!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. It is rather brief because it is merely an excerpt from my weekly gardening column, which has limited space.
LikeLike
I love Oregano both in a perennial garden and in pots. I just completed a large ‘deer proof’ display pot at a local public garden with Oregano ‘Hot and Spicy’ as one of the spiller plants. It has a beautiful golden green leaf and an attractive habit. It is always great to see herbs used in the landscape, and not just in a kitchen garden.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My old oregano grew like a weed, and I just let it. It was one of the more appealing weeds I ever met. Now that it showed up at work, I am just letting it grow. I think it grew from seed, so I do not know what the quality of it will be.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Knowledge may be only a pizza away….
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have had the same patch of Oregano for years. It always dies back during our winter and springs back up the next year, not sure if it self seeds or regrows from the roots?? Very strong flavoured, also butterflys seem to love the flowers!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mine regenerates from the stolons, but it does not get very cold here.
LikeLike
Only Greek Oregano from Greece is used in our home. 🙂
LikeLike