Desert Oregano - Origanum dayi
Family: Lamiacea | Origin: Desert areas in Israel
Here we have a modest plant that easily fits into two gardening trends that have been gaining momentum in recent years: growing edible plants and using native plants in the garden (what a fashion).
Desert Oregano is a plant endemic to Israel and grows wild only within the local deserts. There are several closely related species that can be found in neighbouring areas: Ramon Oregano, which is limited to the high Negev Mountains (found there by Prof. Avinoam Danin) and two extremely rare oregano species found in Jordan.
This is a small sub-shrub, that is evergreen even in the harsh desert conditions. The leaves are light-colored, hairy and slightly sticky and emit a strong and special fragrance. The small white flowers are abundant in late spring and continue appearing sparsely until winter, but are not very impressive.
Despite its desert origins, Desert Oregano grows well in other parts of the country, even under regular irrigation, with excellent drainage of course. It can be grown in a medium-sized container, in the ground, or even when planted in rock crevices that immitate its natural habitat.
It prefers to grow in full or partial sun and under reasonable conditions can reach a diameter and height of about 50 cm after a couple of years. In the ground, it can also be grown naturally without any additional watering.
Although this oregano belongs to the genus Origanum (Oregano) like the oregano species used in cooking, it has, together with its sister plants mentioned earlier, a very different refreshing and respiratory tract-opening fragrance.
The leaves are rich in essential oil and rubbing lightly a few of them gives a pleasant feeling of cleanliness. Desert Oregano tea has a distinctly spicy and deserty-flavor and in folk medicine, such tea or leaf extract is used to treat respiratory problems and a variety of other ailments.
In short, a small and modest plant with a great aroma!
לקריאה על אזובית המדבר בעברית, לחצו כאן
