Origanum vulgare 'Aureum'

RHS Plant Profile
golden oregano

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golden oregano RHS 2002
golden oregano RHS

Other common names

golden marjory

Synonyms

Origanum 'Golden'

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Herbs - Culinary Herbaceous Perennial
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A vigorous, reliable woody-based perennial to 30cm in height, forming a spreading clump of wiry stems bearing broadly ovate, fragrant, bright golden-yellow leaves. Pale pink tubular flowers in small terminal clusters appear in summer through to autumn. A warm flavour

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
North–facing or East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H6

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Foliage
Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Lamiaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy, Clump forming
Genus
Origanum may be herbaceous perennials or deciduous or evergreen sub-shrubs, with aromatic foliage and spikes of small tubular flowers usually with conspicuous bracts
Name Status
Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in a any well-drained (preferably alkaline) soil, in full sun or partial shade. See oregano cultivation for further advice This plant was included in the RHS Origanum (oregano and marjoram) trial 2022-2023 https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/trials-awards/plant-trial-results/origanum

Propagation

Propagate by cuttings of non-flowering shoots in mid-summer or by division in the autumn or spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Wildflower meadow
  • Rock garden
  • Mediterranean climate plants
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut back old, flowered stems in early spring

Pests

May be susceptible to leafhoppers

Diseases

Generally disease-free