Wild marjoram: what is it, where to find it and how to plant it

It's a herb we sprinkle liberally on pizza and pasta. And so we'd be forgiven for thinking oregano, also known as wild marjoram, only grows around the Mediterranean region. But did you know it's actually native to the UK?

How to identify wild marjoram (Origanum vulgare)

What’s known as wild marjoram in Britain is the species Origanum vulgare. It’s frequently known as oregano in Europe. It's one of our staple herbs, but if you’re a gardener you’ll probably be familiar with it, too. On warm summer days its nectar-giving flowers attract a horde of insects, from bumblebees to butterflies. 

Leaves: it has aromatic leaves that are spade-shaped and wider at the base than the tip. They’re 10-40mm long and 5-25mm wide, arranged opposite to each other on stems. The edges of the leaves are smooth or very shallowly toothed and are covered in fine hairs.

Flowers: its tiny white to purplish-pink flowers are clustered on flowering stems, called inflorescences, from summer to early autumn. Each little flower has four stamens (male parts), though they’ll probably be too small to see without a hand lens.

Fruits: each fruit is made up of four single-seeded units, known as nutlets. 

Other species in the genus Origanum 

There are other species of Origanum that are used for culinary purposes. And although they’re not native to the UK, they are often grown here too. Sweet marjoram (Origanum majorana) is native to the Mediterranean region. To add to the mix, pot marjoram (Origanum onites) is also widely grown in the UK. It originates from Sicily, Greece and Turkey.

Wild marjoram and sweet marjoram hybridise easily, and there are many horticultural cultivars between them. They are all edible, though the intensity of flavour can vary.

Where to find wild marjoram in the UK

It grows throughout the UK on dry, infertile, alkaline soils. Look for it on chalk or limestone grassland, hedge banks, woodland rides and scrub.

Benefits of wild marjoram

Food and drink

Wild marjoram is important in Greek and Italian cookery. It’s mainly used dried, which brings out a stronger flavour. It’s probably best known as a pizza herb but can be used dried or fresh in tomato and lamb dishes, salads, grilled meats, stews and soups. Add it to savoury stuffing, meatballs or roasted vegetables.

You can use wild marjoram in drinks, too. Freeze the flowers and leaves into ice cube trays with water to make a cool drink even more refreshing (and really pretty), or use the leaves to make wild marjoram tea. 

Its oil is used in the food industry as a flavouring. 

Around the home

The dried marjoram leaves and flower tops are sometimes used in potpourri. Its oil is used in aromatherapy, perfumes, skincare and beauty products.

Medicine

Oregano has been traditionally used to treat colds, indigestion and stomach upsets.

Gardening 

Wild marjoram is a lovely, low-growing plant perfect for cottage garden borders, rock gardens and scree beds. It’s also fantastic for wildlife gardening: marjoram flowers are absolutely loved by bees and other pollinating insects.

How to grow your own

To grow wild marjoram you can either grow from seed, propagate from softwood cuttings or through dividing existing plants in autumn or spring.

To grow from seed, you can buy them from growers who specialise in British wild plants. Germination can apparently be erratic, and at varying times. Once they’ve germinated, prick out and when root systems are established, you can plant the seedlings out into their final positions in borders or pots.

It grows well in well-drained, preferably alkaline soil, in full sun or partial shade. Its spread is around 20-90 cm in height and width. In early spring, before the plant starts to grow again, cut back the old flowering stems.