Webinar This fast grower quickly reaches a height of 6 to 18 inches and a width of three feet. People have used it for thousands of years to add flavor to dishes and to treat health conditions. It isn’t a lot like your typical oregano plant, but it has beautiful purple flowers that both smell terrific and can survive in harsh conditions. Using it in a dish that requires oregano may change the flavor profile so significantly that it will be immediately detectable. Just apply it directly to your scalp before you wash your hair, and you can also take it in capsule form if you don’t want to ingest it orally. Growing Edibles Indoors This includes: In addition to spicing up food for more flavor, like many herbs, oregano offers various additional benefits. They are not as sturdy as a true oregano plant, but it makes a great addition to any herb garden. Grow it in containers, as a groundcover or in the herb or flower garden. Oregano is a member of the mint family, and is often confused with common marjoram. Mexican oregano is also sometimes used as a tea herb. The most well-known variety is the Greek oregano, which can also be called a true oregano, even though Italian oregano also goes by this name. In fact, Greek oregano is one of the most common types of oregano, and you may have it in your cupboard without even realizing it. Webinar If you live in a warm climate and have an herb garden, its flowers are very ornamental and make the garden look more attractive. Italian oregano is a hybrid of sweet marjoram and common oregano. until 12/31/20. Oregano essential oil can also be used topically, because most brands have already diluted it with a carrier oil. Mexican oregano is not a member of the same genus that other oreganos are, but many cooks and gardeners still grow and use them quite often. Using it in place of oregano means that it won’t necessarily ruin the meal but you won’t get the classic oregano flavor either. Growing Herbs Indoors In fact, since oregano can be purchased and consumed fresh or in oil and capsule form, it is easier than ever to use it for a variety of health conditions. You are here: Home / SPICEography Showdown / Mexican Oregano Vs. Oregano: SPICEography Showdown. It is saw-toothed at the edges of the leaves, and its flowers can be pink, lavender, or white. Register today As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Add it to dry rubs for roasted or smoked meat as well as to soups and stews that require long cooking times. Some people grow Cuban oregano as a house plant, but it is delicious when used to flavor pizzas and a host of other Mediterranean dishes. When you’re hurt or injured, inflammation can result, which is both painful and inconvenient. Can you use them in the same ways? The result is a potent and distinctive profile that can easily dominate the other aromas and tastes in your recipe if you’re not careful. They are not as sturdy as a true oregano plant, but it makes a great addition to any herb garden. This herb is native to Central America and thrives in its dry climate. And adding it to your daily routine is a lot easier than you think. 23 Things to Know Before Dining at Bonefish Grill, Where to Buy Used Blenders (Vitamix) Online, How to Make Braised Slow Cooker Short Ribs, How to Make Oven-Baked Loaded Potato Wedges, Where to Buy Used Brewing Equipment Online, Hop-flower oregano, which is hardy to zone 4b and has lavender bracts that resemble hop-flowers; it is also perfect for landscaping purposes, Heiderose oregano, which has pink flowers and can get up to three feet in height, Compactum oregano, which has dark-green leaves and is perfect for use as groundcovers, Aureum oregano, which has yellow leaves and is a groundcover that you can also use to cook with, Pilgrim oregano, an upright plant that has rosy-pink flowers, Amethyst Falls oregano, with its purple bracts, hot-pink flowers, and its cascading shape. Start cuttings several weeks before its time to move them outdoors. It is native to temperate Western and Southwestern Eurasia and the Mediterranean region. It is also called Mexican sage or rosemary mint, and it is a member of the mint family. Because of the antioxidants and other ingredients in oregano, it can actually reduce the amount of inflammation you’re experiencing, and it can help you with diabetes, heart conditions, and certain autoimmune conditions. Mexican oregano and oregano come from unrelated plants even though they share a name. Add some fragrance to your indoor and outdoor gardens with Mexican mint also known as menthol plant or Cuban oregano. Outdoors grow it in dappled shade with fertile well-drained soil. The scientific answers here are above and beyond the call of duty! Oregano is best suited for dishes from the Mediterranean region that use tomatoes heavily and that contain other strong herbs and seasonings. Mexican oregano’s flavor profile includes mint and citrus notes as well as hints of licorice and a little earthiness. It is also called Mexican sage or rosemary mint, and it is a member of the mint family. If you love spaghetti or Mediterranean dishes, you likely use Greek oregano to cook it. This trailing houseplant is grown for its foliage. Privacy Policy  | These are two different plants in that Mexican oregano is a relative of lemon verbena, while Mediterranean oregano is a member of the mint family like basil and thyme. It grows differently in different areas of the country, but it does best in growing zones 7b through 8a, as well as zone 11. It features in the Mediterranean diet. In most parts of the US, only the Mediterranean version is referred to simply as oregano. It can also have a mild pepperiness that helps it to compete with other pungent flavors. Because of its strong flavor, it is recommended that you use lower quantities of this herb than you do other types of oregano, although its taste is just as good. In fact, oregano is second only to thyme when it comes to its bacteria-killing properties, so load up on this amazing herb. This member of the mint family thrives indoors in bright light with a bit of afternoon shade in hot sunny windows. You won’t get Mexican oregano’s sweet citrus notes, but you may be able to replace that with other ingredients. Oregano essential oil can also help with problems related to your hair. Mexican oregano has a different flavor profile from oregano. Greek oregano has a pungent flavor and is a useful herb for dozens of dishes, and if you’d like to grow it, it does best in zones 5-11. Very thorough and insightful. supports HTML5 video. Oregano is a herb from the mint, or Lamiaceae family. Mexican Oregano. Low Maintenance Gardening The Greek oregano plant has white flowers and fuzzy leaves, and it doesn’t grow as aggressively as the standard, common oregano. Mexican Oregano Plant (Lippia graveolens) vs Mediterranean Oregano Plant (Origanum vulgare) ... Mediterranean oregano: Oregano is a flowering plant in the mint family. It also makes an attractive spiller (trailing plant) in container gardens. Although this herb shares the basic pungent flavor of Mediterranean oregano, it … Familiar to most people because it is frequently used in tomato sauces and on pizzas, these types of oregano grow very well outdoors, especially if you live in zones 5 to 10 and you plant them in a sunny spot with soil that drains well. This article may include references and links to products and services from one or more of our advertisers. Houseplants - Tips for Success The plants themselves grow up to 18 inches tall, but they should never be left in full sun because they may burn.