Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum
Oregano, Oregano
Forest & Kim Starr (via Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY
Family: Lamiaceae · Type: Perennial · Not Native
Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum (Oregano) is a non-native California perennial in the Lamiaceae family.
Oregano is a naturalized perennial found in coastal California regions including northern Coast, central Coast, San Francisco Bay, southern Coast, and North Coast in disturbed areas at elevations below 1,300 meters. Flowering during summer, this plant produces small white flowers in pale green or cream-colored bracts. Growing with short-hairy stems 30 to 100 centimeters tall emerging from underground rhizomes, it spreads easily in open ground. Its leaves are small, approximately 2 to 15 millimeters long, with entire to slightly serrated edges, covered in fine hairs and minute glandular dots. The plant's delicate white flowers and extensively spreading growth habit make it a common sight in disturbed landscapes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated, no sympatric species
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas
Elevation: < 1300 m
Outside California: native to eastern Mediterranean
Bloom period
Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum 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 vulgare subsp. hirtum native to California?
No. Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum bloom?
Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum blooms +- summer.
What plant family does Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum belong to?
Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum is in the Lamiaceae family, genus Origanum.
What habitat does Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum grow in?
Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum grows in Disturbed areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.