Oregano is one of the most popular Mediterranean herbs. Introducing the subspecies of Greek oregano with all the pros and cons.
Greek oregano (Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum) is a subspecies of common oregano ( Origanum vulgare). A subspecies of its own has been dedicated to the Greek oregano due to its specific natural occurrence in Greece. This is common for the species of Origanum vulgare - there is not a large variety of different oregano cultivars on the market, instead many subspecies containing geographical names are found.
In terms of cultivation and care, there are no fundamental differences between Greek oregano and ordinary. The Greek oregano can also be propagated by sowing and cuttings and it can also cope with very little water even in longer dry periods. Detailed instructions for growing oregano, which you can easily apply to Greek oregano, can be found in this article.
But the Greek oregano would not be a subspecies of its own if there were no small but subtle differences between it and the common pizza herb:
While most oregano species develop small, pink flowers from July, it shines Greek oregano in a pure blossom white. In terms of taste and aroma intensity, Greek oregano is said to have clear advantages over many of its relatives.
The most decisive advantage in favor of cultivating Greek oregano, however, is its comparatively stronger winter hardiness. As it can withstand winter temperatures down to -15 °C, it is best suited for overwintering. Most subspecies have long lost out in such temperatures and are therefore not really suitable for outdoor cultivation over the winter. The Greek oregano, on the other hand, stands out due to its robustness, but should still be protected from frost damage caused by too cold temperatures with brushwood or mulch in the cold season. So you can be sure that the Greek oreganowill continue to provide plenty of pizza cabbage at its place in the bed next year.
You can find more information about oregano in this overview article.