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Summary

Oreganillo is primarily a tea and flavoring plant, with its leaves and flowers providing a refreshing, lemony-herbal infusion. Seeds are technically edible but taste unpleasant and should not be considered a food source. The plant is valued for its fragrance and flavoring qualities rather than for nutrition.

Physical Characteristics

Aloysia wrightii is an evergreen Shrub growing to 3 m (9ft) by 3 m (9ft) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9 and is not frost tender. The flowers are pollinated by Bees, Insects.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Homotypic Synonyms: Lippia wrightii A.Gray

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

The leaves and flowers can be steeped to make an excellent tea. The flavor is fruity and lemon-like with an herbal overtone. The tea is bright green in color and aromatic, though bitterness may develop if too many leaves are used. Leaves and flowers can also be used as flavorings in desserts, beverages, or combined with fruit for seasoning [2-3]. The seeds are technically edible, but they have an unpleasant flavor and are not recommended. Raw or toasted seeds taste resinous, tar-like, and unpalatable. Boiling improves them slightly, but they remain unsuitable for consumption. Seeds are brown, easy to collect, and available in late autumn, but their lack of palatability makes them of no real food value[2-3]. Other parts of the shrub are inedible[2-3]..

References More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

None Known

References More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Wildlife: Excellent nectar plant for bees and butterflies, and often planted in xeriscapes.

Special Uses

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

It is a shrub and grows primarily in the desert or dry shrubland biome. Growing Conditions: Sun: Requires full sun for best growth and flowering. Soil: Thrives in well-drained sandy, gravelly, or rocky soils. Tolerates calcareous or alkaline conditions. Water: Very drought-tolerant once established. Occasional deep watering during drought will encourage flowering. Avoid waterlogged soils. Habitat: Naturally found in desert canyons, rocky slopes, washes, and dry foothills, often blooming after monsoon rains. Wildlife: Excellent nectar plant for bees and butterflies, and often planted in xeriscapes. Hardiness: Best suited for USDA zones 8–10. Tolerates brief frosts but is damaged by prolonged freezing below about -9 °C (15 °F). In colder zones it may die back to the ground, sometimes resprouting in spring if roots survive. Growth Rate: Moderate growth rate. In warm desert conditions with good sun, plants can put on about 30–60 cm (1–2 ft) of growth per year. It can reach 2–3 m (6–10 ft) in height over several years. Responds with a flush of new growth and flowering after seasonal rains. Aloysia wrightii has low weed potential. It does not aggressively spread outside its range and is not listed in invasive plant databases. Tends to stay localized in desert washes, slopes, and dry foothills.

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Seed.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Oreganillo, Sonoran beebrush, Wright’s aloysia, mintbush lippa, or highmass (Aloysia wrightii (A. Gray) A. Heller = Lippa wrightii A. Gray).

Native Range

Arizona, California, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, New Mexico, Texas, Utah

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it's worth checking.

Aloysia wrightii has low weed potential. Native to the Sonoran Desert and surrounding areas (Arizona, New Mexico, northern Mexico). It does not aggressively spread outside its range and is not listed in invasive plant databases. Tends to stay localized in desert washes, slopes, and dry foothills.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : Not available

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Aloysia citriodora	Lemon Verbena, Lemon beebrush	Shrub	3.0	7-10	M	LM	SN	DM	4	3	3
Aloysia gratissima	Whitebrush	Shrub	3.0	7-9	F	LM	N	DM	2	2	2

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

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Aloysia wrightii - (A. Gray) A. Heller