Redbank Research Station A printed copy with photos is available . It belongs to the Labiatae family and bears attractive white to purplish flowers and showy bracts in summer.
Oregano tends to be quite variable when grown from seed.
Leaves are green to grey-green and may be hairy or smooth. Many species contribute to the oregano herb of commerce, to the extent that oregano should be considered more a flavour than a particular species. O. vulgare is widely distributed through Europe to central Asia. It has also naturalised on a small scale in Central Otago, particularly in the Shotover River valley. Other species mentioned tend to have a more restricted range in western Europe and the Mediterranean region.