How big does Oregano grow?

About 60 cm × 60 cm after ten years (height × width). Its ultimate size is 30–90 cm × 30–80 cm.

What soil does Oregano grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, sandy, calcareous.

Hardy down to -34 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

Is Oregano toxic to children?

No. Reliable sources list it as non-toxic to children.

When does Oregano flower?

Flowering: July–October, pink, purple, white.

How much water does Oregano need?

Water need: low. Drought tolerance: high.

How much does Oregano cost?

It sells for roughly €3.90 to €4.90 in local shops, depending on size.

Oregano

Origanum vulgare

Oregano (Origanum vulgare) is a perennial that reaches 60 cm × 60 cm after ten years. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -34 °C. Drought tolerance: high. Non-toxic to children. Sold in local shops from about €3.90.

Illustration of Oregano — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

Oregano is a wildflower and a kitchen herb in one: from midsummer its pinkish-purple flowers are busy with bees and butterflies. It is happy in sunny, dry, even chalky and poor soil and needs almost no watering. It creeps by rhizomes and also seeds around, so give it room or cut it back after flowering; the leaves taste best just before the flowers open.

Watch out for

The roots rot in heavy soil that stays wet in winter, so avoid such sites. In good conditions it spreads by rhizomes and scattered seed and can crowd out smaller neighbours. Seed-raised plants often have little aroma: if you want it for the kitchen, choose by scent. Aphids, spider mites and leaf miners turn up occasionally.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Low
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 60 cm × 60 cm
Hardiness: down to -34 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D July–October, pink, purple, white

Group	Perennial
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	60 cm × 60 cm
Ultimate size	30–90 cm × 30–80 cm
Hardiness	down to -34 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Sandy, Calcareous
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	July–October, pink, purple, white
Water need	Low
Drought tolerance	High
Maintenance	Low
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no data
Spreading	Medium
Distance from buildings	no data
Distance from paving	no data
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	40 cm
For dogs	Toxic (uncertain)
For cats	Toxic (uncertain)
For children	Non-toxic
Typical price	from about €3.90

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
size not stated	approx. €3.90 – €4.90

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 8, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Ground cover plants Perennials for part shade Perennials for full sun Drought-tolerant plants Drought-tolerant perennials Drought-tolerant plants for sandy soil Plants that are non-toxic to children Perennials for pollinators Plants for containers Low-maintenance perennials Plants for a Mediterranean garden Fragrant plants Fragrant perennials

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