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Lippia graveolens - Kunth

Common Name Mexican Oregano
Family Verbenaceae
USDA hardiness 9-12
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Dry areas[238 ]. Rocky slopes or damp thickets on plains at elevations of 350 metres or less[331 ].
Range Central America from Costa Rica, north to Mexico and southern N. America.
Edibility Rating    (4 of 5)
Other Uses    (1 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Tender Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Lippia graveolens Mexican Oregano


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Lippia graveolens Mexican Oregano
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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Lippia graveolens is an evergreen Shrub growing to 2 m (6ft) by 2 m (6ft) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Insects.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Goniostachyum graveolens (Kunth) Small Lantana origanoides M.Martens & Galeotti Lippia berlandieri M

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves
Edible Uses: Condiment  Tea

The leaves have an intense aroma of oregano and are commonly used, especially in central America, as a flavouring in tomato pastes and other dishes that require a strong oregano flavour[301 ]. The leaves are often used by the food industry instead of the true oregano[238 ]. Many people find them preferable to the European oregano[301 ]. They are more pungent than European oregano[200 ]. The dried leaves can be used to make a herbal tea[301 ].

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

Attracts nectar-feeding butterflies, bees and other insects, and seed-eating birds. Attractive flowers.

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers a position in full sun in any moderately fertile, well-drained soil[200 ]. Prefers light soil[238 ].a very drought-tolerant plant! Hardy to around -2 °C (30 °F). Flowering Time: Late Spring/Early Summer Mid Summer. Bloom Color: White/Near White. Spacing: 36-48 in. (90-120 cm).

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Fahrenheit:

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Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed - Basal or nodal softwood cuttings[200 ]. Cuttings of semi-ripe wood.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Mexican Oregano, Karabo, Mexican marjoram, Mexican wild sage, Te de pais, amerikanisches oregano, hierba dulce, mexican oregano, mexican sage, mexican-sage, mexikansk oregano, oregano, oregano cimmaron, origan marjolaine, orégano, redbrush lippia, scented lippia, scented matgrass.

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: United States (New Mexico (south), Texas), Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila de Zaragoza, Durango, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas, Campeche, Chiapas, Ciudad de México, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, México, Michoacán de Ocampo, Morelos, Nayarit, Oaxaca, Puebla, Querétaro, Quintana Roo, Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave, Yucatán) SOUTHERN AMERICA: Trinidad and Tobago (Trinidad), Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Guyana, Venezuela, Brazil (Amazonas, Bahia, Ceará, Distrito Federal, Espírito Santo, Goiás, Mato Grosso, Minas Gerais, Pará, Paraná, Piauí, Rio de Janeiro, Roraima), Bolivia (Santa Cruz), Colombia, Argentina (Misiones, Salta), Paraguay (Concepción, Cordillera, Paraguarí)

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.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther

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.

 

Expert comment

Author

Kunth

Botanical References

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.

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