Origanum ×majoricum
Italian oregano, hardy sweet marjoram, Hardy Sweet Marjoram
Family: Lamiaceae · Type: Perennial · Not Native
Origanum ×majoricum (Italian oregano) is a non-native California perennial in the Lamiaceae family.
Italian oregano is a naturalized perennial found in northern Sierra Nevada foothills and Sacramento Valley in disturbed areas at elevations below 600 meters. Flowering during summer, this plant produces white flowers in small panicle-like clusters with pale green bracts. Growing with erect stems 10 to 60 centimeters tall that are short-hairy, it spreads from underground rhizomes. Its small leaves are 5 to 12 millimeters long, entire with ciliate margins, and minutely gland-dotted with a glabrous to slightly hairy surface. The delicate white flowers are two-lipped, approximately 5 to 6 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated, no sympatric species
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas
Elevation: < 600 m
Outside California: native to Balearic Islands, Spain, Portugal
Bloom period
Origanum ×majoricum blooms +- summer.
How to tell it apart
vs Thymus: Origanum has overlapping pale bracts throughout; Thymus has small green bracts that don't overlap.; vs Polygala: Origanum has square stems and opposite leaves; Polygala has round stems and alternate leaves.; vs Mentha: Origanum has pale overlapping bracts; Mentha lacks these distinctive shingled bracts.; vs Prunella: Origanum bracts are pale and shingled; Prunella has green bracts and dense purple flower spike.; vs Stachys: Origanum has tiny 5-lobed flowers with pale overlapping bracts; Stachys has larger two-lipped flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Origanum ×majoricum native to California?
No. Origanum ×majoricum is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Origanum ×majoricum bloom?
Origanum ×majoricum blooms +- summer.
What plant family does Origanum ×majoricum belong to?
Origanum ×majoricum is in the Lamiaceae family, genus Origanum.
What habitat does Origanum ×majoricum grow in?
Origanum ×majoricum grows in Disturbed areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-09
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.