Origanum

A Mediterranean herbaceous perennial forming a spreading mat of small aromatic leaves + open clusters of small pink-to-white flowers in summer. Strongly attractive to honey bees, bumblebees, hoverflies, and small butterflies; among the best edible herbs for pollinator support. The cultivars used for cooking (Greek oregano, Italian oregano) are selections of this species.

A tender Mediterranean culinary herb — a bushy little sub-shrub with reddish square stems and rounded, gray-green aromatic leaves that grows in an upright mound to 1-2 feet. Tiny white-to-pale-pink flowers open from knot-like bud clusters in summer, the trait behind the alternate name "knotted marjoram." Hardy only in USDA zones 9-10; everywhere colder it is grown as a warm-season annual or a pot herb brought in before frost.