Great For Soups and Sauces!
12-24 Inches Tall
12-18 Inches Wide
Plant in Full Sun

Italian oregano is one of the most versatile and delicious herbs for making sauces and soups in the kitchen. The leaves of Italian oregano are slightly larger than those of their Greek cousin, so they are easy to dry and store for later use. Italian oregano also is a fragrant and attractive plant in the garden or containers. It thrives as a perennial herb in zones 5 through 10, so you can enjoy fresh leaves year after year. Italian oregano leaves are ready for harvesting fresh and drying as soon as the plant's pretty stems are at least 4 inches long; cut the stem to leave an inch or so for re-growing. Italian oregano typically reaches 12 to 18 inches high and spreads nearly as wide like a groundcover.

If stems are left to grow longer, tiny pink flowers will emerge late in summer. However, it is best to harvest Italian oregano leaves before the flowers appear for best flavor. Harvest early in the morning when possible.

Italian Oregano Plant Care

Plant Italian oregano after the last frost in the area. The plants grow best when the soil temperature is 70 degrees or higher. The herb prefers light, well-draining soil. Choose any spot in the garden that gets full sun or partial shade. If planting oregano in hot climates, be sure the plant gets afternoon shade. If planting several oregano plants, space them about 12 to 18 inches apart. Prune the oregano about 2 months after planting to reinvigorate the plant. Pruning this hardy herb really amounts to harvesting. You can store stems in a cool area of the kitchen for a few days or dry them for winter use.

Growing Italian Oregano Plants

Italian oregano also can be grown in an indoor container, especially in colder areas, and move outside in summer. If growing oregano indoors, ensure it has plenty of sunlight or artificial light from a growing stand. Protect Italian oregano from hard winter frosts (about 28 degrees or lower) by covering the plant with a blanket.

Grow Italian oregano in a container right by your kitchen door for easy harvesting. Use the same type of loose, well-draining soil that oregano likes when planted outdoors. The container must have drainage and should be at least 12 inches around at the mouth to give the plant room to spread.

Watering Italian Oregano Plants

Keep the soil around Italian oregano consistently moist until the plant's roots are established, at least for several weeks after planting. After that, water deeply but only when the soil in the ground or container is dry to the touch.

Feeding Italian Oregano Plants

There is no need to fertilize Italian oregano for it to thrive, but gardeners can add a small amount of fertilizer or organic compost every few weeks during the growing season. If desired, an all-purpose fertilizer can be added every few weeks, worked into the ground around the plant.

Italian Oregano Plant Information

USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-10

Plant Type: Perennial

Sunlight Exposure: Full Sun

Mature Height: 1.5 - 2 Feet

Mature Width: 1.5 - 2 Feet

Plant Spacing: 1.5 - 2 Feet

Growth Habit: Mounded

Flower Color(s): White

Seasonal Interest: Mid Summer Late Summer

Foliage Type: Herbaceous

Foliage Color(s): Green

Attracts: Butterflies

Features: Attracts Pollinators, Deadheading Not Necessary, Fragrant, Low Maintenance

Uses: Container Landscape

Plant Brand: Proven Winners

Botanical/Scientific Name: Origanum vulgare

SKU:: OREILP45

Container Sizes

Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on; type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.

For more detailed information, please click here.

Guide: How to Care for Your New Plant(s)

Planter Shipping

Standard Colors: 2-3 business days

Special Order Colors: 8 weeks - this is due to the planter being custom made with the color(s) of your choice

Please Note: On special orders there can not be any cancellations

Plant Shipping

Time of Order:

Summer Shipping

If there is extreme heat we’ll delay shipping.

We’ll have to review what areas the plants are traveling through along with your location

Once your plant is shipped you’ll receive an email with tracking information. Depending on the above criteria we’ll ship your plant(s) towards beginning of the following week from your order. We put together this helpful guide of what to do when you receive your plants in the mail.

It is important to know that all of our plants are clearly labeled for which growing zones the plant can survive in. The plants are thoroughly trialed and tested in every growing zone before we state the plant can grow in a zone. Again, our #1 priority is to ship the plants to you healthy and ready to thrive in your location. So we will do everything in our power to do so.

Italian Oregano

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