Mexican Bush Oregano Growing Mexican Oregano In The Garden

Mexican oregano can be planted outdoors in the spring as soon as all chance of frost has passed. It can be grown from seed, cuttings, or crown divisions. Growing Mexican oregano is very easy. The plants prefer full sun and need lots of space as they tend to spread out.

What is the difference in oregano and Mexican oregano?
Does oregano spread in the garden?
Is Mexican oregano an annual or perennial?
How tall does Mexican oregano grow?
What do you use Mexican oregano for?
What is another name for Mexican oregano?
What can I do with fresh oregano from the garden?
Does oregano like sun or shade?
Does oregano come back every year?
How long does Mexican oregano last?
Does Mexican oregano need full sun?
Does oregano grow from cuttings?

What is the difference in oregano and Mexican oregano?

Regular oregano is an Italian and Mediterranean spice with minty undertones. ... Mexican oregano has lemon and citrus flavors as well as some tones of licorice. These flavors are a better fit with Mexican dishes. It is often found in chili and salsas because it pairs beautifully with spicy chile peppers.

Does oregano spread in the garden?

The plants will grow 1 to 2 feet tall and spread about 18 inches. Oregano makes a good companion plant for any vegetable in the garden.

Is Mexican oregano an annual or perennial?

A member of the Lamiaceae or mint family, Mexican oregano has grown in my Zone 8b garden for about 20 years. During that time, it has proven itself to be a long-lived, high performing perennial.

How tall does Mexican oregano grow?

Though not a true oregano, Mexican oregano is native to Mexico, as well as Guatemala and parts of South America. A somewhat ungainly shrub, it grows up to five feet tall and wide.

What do you use Mexican oregano for?

Mexican cooks rely on the strong flavor of Mexican oregano for a wide variety of traditional dishes. We use it in fresh or cooked salsa, meat mixtures for burritos and tacos, enchilada sauce, and classic braised pork. Cuban cuisine makes delicious use of this peppery herb.

What is another name for Mexican oregano?

Common names include: Mexican oregano, redbrush lippia, orégano cimarrón ('wild oregano'), scented lippia, and scented matgrass. The specific epithet is derived from two Latin words: gravis, meaning 'heavy', and oleo, meaning 'oil'.

What can I do with fresh oregano from the garden?

It goes particularly well with the following foods and recipes:

jazz up pizza/pasta sauces;
use as a pizza sauce itself;
make a simple oregano pasta.
mix with some olive oil and drizzle in a nice salad;
dress up some roast potatoes like these potatoes from A Communal Table;

Does oregano like sun or shade?

Most varieties of oregano need full sun; however, the leaves of golden oregano, 'Aureum', can fry under the sun, so it does best in partial shade.

Does oregano come back every year?

A majority of herbs are perennials throughout most of the United States. That means they come back year after year and usually get bigger or spread in territory each year. Some of our most-used cooking herbs are perennials, including sage, oregano and thyme.

How long does Mexican oregano last?

Properly stored, dried oregano leaves will generally stay at best quality for about 1 to 3 years.

Does Mexican oregano need full sun?

graveolens prefers full sun but it can tolerate some shade. It prefers loamy, sandy, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0 to 8.0. Incorporate a little compost into the soil, but take care not to over-fertilize this plant.

Does oregano grow from cuttings?

Oregano is a relatively easy plant to start with. You can take stem cuttings 7-12 cm long from a healthy plant (with a sterilized knife), remove leaves from the bottom half and place the cuttings in water, so that the leaves are above the water. Place your containers in a well lit place, avoiding direct sunlight.