Oregano has a culinary status that should, at the least, be matched by it’s status as a pollinator friendly plant. In both anecdote among growers who let their Oregano flower, and in scientific documentation, it’s been clearly laid out that pollinating bees show particular favor to Oregano, and will flock to it like nearly no other plant.

Having to “fight” through bees to snip off some Oregano for a spaghetti sauce is not an uncommon amusing story during the flowering period, which occurs from mid to late summer (though making a cut around sunrise or in the early evening will surely resolve this).

Here, in August, the bees are almost countless in one particular garden containing Oregano, Anise Hyssop and Mint. Honey Bees appear to be particular winners in this arrangement, but Bumble Bees and their close relatives also take a special joy, not to mention numerous small bees of various colors.

Oregano, given time, will tend to lay out a lovely mat covered in deep green, ovate leaves that will grow almost as wide as you will allow it to, via both it’s spreading stems that root out and self sowing.

You’ll almost undoubtedly end up with far more Oregano than you could ever use, but for the sake of the pollinators, that is perhaps precisely the desire. Border your garden with Oregano on a rocky edge for attractive, tasty display.

Care: Oregano requires a modest amount of care. Encourage it early on after transplanting by supplying regular watering when the weather is dry. Once established, though, it is fairly drought tolerant.

Most care beyond this comes down to the preferences of the grower-admirer. Oregano only requires splitting every several years for optimal appearance. Some growers opt not to split it at all, but doing so about every 3 to 4 years helps prevent a “bald spot” in the center of the plant’s mass, keeping it in optimum appearance and health.