Oregano

 

Oregano lässt sich wie sein Bruder, der Wilde Majoran bzw. Dost, leicht ziehen – unter seiner einzigen Bedingung, dass er genug Sonne abbekommt!

 

Mit der Sonne ist er auch symbolisch verbunden:

Oregano zählt wie der Dost zu den Sonnwendkräutern! Dazu mag neben seiner Lebenskraft auch sein starker, ´das Böse vertreibende´ Duft zählen!

So darf er auch in einem Frauenbuschen nicht fehlen. Er bildet mit Königskerze, Wermut bzw. Beifuß das Zentrum des Kräuterstraußes.

Für Winterräucherungen wird auch ein getrockneter Oregano- bzw. Dostzweigerl, wenn möglich aus dem Frauenbuschen stammend, zum Räuchergut gegeben.
 

Tipps:

• Je mehr Sonne die Pflanze erhält, desto intensiver wird ihr Aroma.
• Der Geschmack ihrer Blätter verstärkt sich durch Trocknen.
• Viele italienische Speisen werden damit gewürzt, vor allem Pizza, Sugo bolognese, Bruschetta mit Tomate.  
• Oregano kann bereits bei der Zubereitung beigefügt werden, denn seinen Geschmack wird durch Kochen noch kräftiger.
• Roh werden die Blättchen über das fertige Gericht gestreut.
• In der Heilkunde gilt er durch seine ätherischen Öle, Gerb- und Bitterstoffe als wirksam bei Erkankungen des Verdauungstraktes und bei Infektionen der Atemwege.
• Ein duftend aromatischer Verwandter, der in milden Klimata oder im Kalthaus gut kultiviert werden kann: Onites-Oregano !  

Landscape Uses:Border, Container, Ground cover, Rock garden, Seashore. Requires a rather dry, warm, well-drained soil in full sun, but is not fussy as to soil type, thriving on chalk. Prefers slightly alkaline conditions. Tolerates poor soils. Dislikes wet soils. Hardy to about -20°c. Oregano has a long history of culinary and medicinal use and is often cultivated in modern gardens as a culinary herb, there are some named varieties. Plants growing near the sea have the most fragrance. A good companion plant, improving the flavour of nearby plants. The flowers are very attractive to bees and butterflies. A good companion for the cucumber family, it is beneficial to all nearby plants. The whole plant has a sweet yet slightly peppery aroma. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer. Special Features: Attractive foliage, Fragrant foliage, Not North American native, Attracts butterflies, Suitable for cut flowers, Suitable for dried flowers, Fragrant flowers. In garden design, as well as the above-ground architecture of a plant, root structure considerations help in choosing plants that work together for their optimal soil requirements including nutrients and water. The root pattern is rhizomatous with underground stems sending roots and shoots along their length [2-1]. Oregano is self-fertile. Oregano is typically harvested in late spring to summer, just before the plant begins to flower. Oregano generally flowers from mid-summer to early autumn. Oregano grows relatively quickly, reaching maturity in about 2-3 months under optimal conditions.

Edible Parts: Flowers Leaves Stem Edible Uses: Condiment Tea Leaves - raw or cooked as a potherb. Oregano is an important flavouring herb in Mediterranean cookery, and is often used dried rather than fresh. The leaves are used as a flavouring for salad dressings, vegetables and legumes, and are frequently included in strongly flavoured dishes with chillies, garlic, onions etc. A nutritional analysis is available. Flowers, usually appear in late spring, are edible. Much of the commercially available dried oregano does not come from this plant but from a number of different, often unrelated plants. These include Lippia graveolens, L. palmeri and Origanum syriacum. A herb tea is made from the dried leaves and flowering stems.

Dye Essential Parasiticide Repellent Strewing Agroforestry uses: Oregano can be used as a companion plant, helping to attract beneficial insects and improving the overall health of surrounding plants. It may also help deter certain pests. An essential oil from the plant is used as a food flavouring, in soaps and perfumery. The herb contains 0.15 - 0.4% essential oil and makes good herbal pillows and baths. The plant was formerly used as a strewing herb. The essential oil has also been used to kill lice, though some caution is advised since it can cause skin irritations. A red or purple dye is obtained from the flowering tops, it is neither brilliant nor durable. The plant repels ants. The growing plant repels many insect pests so it is a good plant to grow in the vegetable area. A useful ground cover for sunny positions, forming a slowly spreading clump[197, K]. Plants should be spaced about 30cm apart each way. 1. Nectary - Flowers rich in nectar and pollen: Yes – Oregano produces small flowers that are rich in nectar, attracting various pollinators such as bees and butterflies. 2. Wildlife - Food (Fruit, Seeds, Leaf litter, Shelter, Nesting, Roosting): Yes – While oregano itself does not produce significant fruit or seeds, the leaves are edible and nutritious for humans and can provide some food value for wildlife. Its dense foliage can offer shelter, although it is not typically used for nesting. 3. Invertebrate Shelter (Overwintering sites, Leaf litter, Groundcover): Yes – Oregano can provide habitat for beneficial insects and contribute to ground cover. Its structure may support some invertebrates, and leaf litter can provide overwintering sites for various organisms. 4. Pest Confuser (Smell): Yes – Oregano has a strong aromatic scent that can help confuse or deter some pests, making it beneficial in companion planting scenarios.

Heimisch: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Altay, Austria, Azores, Balangen, Baleares, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Buryatiya, Canary Is., Central European Russia, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Corse, Cyprus, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, East Aegean Is., East European Russia, East Himalaya, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hordaland, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Irkutsk, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Krasnoyarsk, Kriti, Krym, Madeira, More og Rømsdal, Morocco, NW. Balkan Pen., Nepal, Netherlands, Nordnorge, North Caucasus, North European Russia, Northwest European Russia, Norway, Oppdal, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sannidal, Sardegna, Sicilia, Sogn of Fjordan, South European Russia, Spain, Svalbard, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Taiwan, Tibet, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuva, Velfjord Eingeführt: Alabama, Arkansas, British Columbia, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Galápagos Islands, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mexico Southwest, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, New Zealand South, North Carolina, Nova Scotia, Ohio, Ontario, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Primorye, Prince Edward I., Québec