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Origanum onites - L.

Common Name Pot Marjoram
Family Lamiaceae or Labiatae
USDA hardiness 7-10
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Stony hills and rocky slopes, usually on limestone, occasionally in partial shade, to 1400 metres in Turkey[93].
Range Europe - Mediterranean
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Frost Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Origanum onites Pot Marjoram


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Origanum onites Pot Marjoram

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Origanum onites is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft) by 0.6 m (2ft in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from July to September, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves
Edible Uses: Condiment  Tea

Leaves - raw or cooked. They are used as a flavouring for salad dressings, vegetables and legumes and are best added in the final stages of cooking[183, 238]. A strong thyme-like aroma, the leaves are used as a substitute for oregano or marjoram, but they are inferior in flavour[183, 238]. A slightly bitter flavour, it is not nearly so sweet and delicate as O. majorana or O. vulgare[244]. Its flavour, however, lasts longer in cooked dishes[244]. A herb tea is made from the leaves[183].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

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Antiseptic  Antispasmodic  Carminative  Cholagogue  Diaphoretic  Disinfectant  Emmenagogue  Expectorant  
Stimulant  Stomachic  Tonic

The leaves and flowering stems are antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative, cholagogue, diaphoretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, stimulant, stomachic and mildly tonic[4, 21]. They are harvested in the summer and can be used fresh or dried[238].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Disinfectant  Dye  Essential  Pot-pourri

An essential oil from the leaves is used as a food flavouring and in perfumery[57, 61, 171]. The leaves and flowering stems are added to pot-pourri and scented articles[238]. The plant is often used to disinfect bee hives[7].

Special Uses

Attracts Wildlife  Scented Plants

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Requires a rather dry, warm, well-drained soil, but is not fussy as to soil type[1, 18], thriving on chalk[1]. Prefers slightly alkaline conditions[200]. This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to about -10°c[200]. Sometimes cultivated as a culinary herb. A good companion plant, improving the flavour of nearby plants[18, 20]. The flowers are very attractive to bees[108]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[233].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Propagation

Seed - sow early spring at 10 - 13°c and only just cover the seed. Germination usually takes place within 2 weeks. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer. The seed can also be sown in situ in late spring. Division in March or October. Very easy, larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer. Basal cuttings of young barren shoots in June. Very easy. Harvest the shoots with plenty of underground stem when they are about 8 - 10cm above the ground. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Origanum compactum Perennial0.3 -  LMHNDM10 
Origanum dictamnusDittany Of Crete, Hop MarjoramPerennial0.2 7-9 MLMHNDM21 
Origanum glandulosum Perennial0.0 -  LMHNDM10 
Origanum isthmicum Perennial0.0 -  LMHSNDM10 
Origanum majoranaSweet MarjoramPerennial0.6 6-9  LMHSNDM333
Origanum syriacumBible HyssopPerennial1.0 7-10  LMHSNDM200
Origanum virens Perennial1.0 -  LMHSNDM10 
Origanum vulgareOregano, Pot MarjoramPerennial0.6 4-10 MLMHSNDM435
Origanum vulgare hirtumGreek OreganoPerennial0.6 4-8  LMHSNDM433
Origanum x hybridum Perennial0.3 7-10  LMHSNDM10 
Origanum x majoricumHardy MarjoramPerennial0.6 6-9  LMHSNDM223

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Subject : Origanum onites  
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