Origanum vulgare ‘Aureum’
Golden oregano
Golden oregano is a cultivated variety of oregano for use as an ornamental ground cover. Oregano originated in Europe and central Asia, but the plant and its cultivars sometimes escape cultivation in eastern and far western North America.
Plants: This low wood perennial herb rarely is 6–12″ (15–30 cm) in height, spreading slowly to 1½–2′ (45–60 cm) around. Stems are square in cross-section.
Leaves: Opposite yellow-green leaves are ½–1″ (1.3–2.5 cm) in size, rounded to ovate, usually with smooth edges, sometimes with some teeth.
Flowers: Small, two-lipped, and pink, lavender, white, or purple. They appear from July to September. Each flower has four stamens.
Fruits: Small, ovoid, brown nutlets.
Habitats: Dry or mesic soils, in full sun.
Edibility: This is an edible oregano cultivar. They taste best when leaves are harvested just prior to flowering.
Online References:
8/1/2009 · Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Boothbay, Maine · ≈ 2 × 1½′ (68 × 55 cm) 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves |
| Subclass | Asteridae | A large class that encompasses asters |
| Order | Lamiales | Aromatic herbs and shrubs, including lavender, lilac, olive, jasmine, ash, teak, snapdragon, sesame, psyllium, garden sage, mint, basil, and rosemary |
| Family | Lamiaceae | Mint family |
| Genus | Origanum | Aromotic herbs including marjoram and oregano |
| Species | vulgare | Means “common” |
Origanum vulgare ‘Aureum’ description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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