The oregano plant can grow horizontally up to 2 ½ feet tall with pungent leaves. The flowers grow in clusters at the end of shoots and bloom in June. Wild oregano flowers are purple in color while Greek oregano has white flowers.

The Mexican oregano is more pungent than the Mediterranean variety and is a shrub like plant that can grow to a height of 7 feet. Oregano became popular in America when the pizza craze caught on.

This herb has a pungent smell and taste. It is a perennial plant in warm climates and in colder climes it is an annual.

The leaves contain an essential oil called origanum oil which gives it its distictive taste and smell.