Cuban Oregano, tricolor

Cuban Oregano, white, light and dark green
Plectranthus Amboinicus

days to maturity:
plant spacing: 1 plant every 4 feet
sunlight requirements: 6-14 hours
look out for: spider mites and mealy bugs
harvest notes: fast growing, enjoy often
perennial

This hardy, fragrant herb has collected an extremely long list of nicknames, ranging from the powerful mother of herbs, mother of all herbs, queen of herbs, to the practical five in one herb, five seasons herb, all herb, five spice herb, to the international Spanish thyme, Mexican mint, Puerto Rican oregano, and Indian borage. 

Cuban oregano is basically indestructible and can grow in full sun, partial shade, and almost no light and it can handle low nutrient soil, being left in a pot forever, and any amount of water you want to give it. Over the years we’ve been growing and planting this plant we do think that its favorite conditions are well draining soil with a bit of water and partial shade (6-8 hours of sun). It’s also incredibly easy to propagate from cuttings, making it great for beginner and even for using educationally with kids. 

Due to its ease of cultivation and similarity in flavor to oregano, this herb is frequently used in commercial food products as a substitute for traditional Italian oregano. In India, the thick leaves are dipped in chickpea batter and fried. Dice the leaves and add them with oil, vinegar and other green herbs like garlic chives, parsley, cilantro, sage or rosemary to make a delicious green topping. Stuff a whole fish with cuban oregano leaves and lemon wedges then wrap it in ginger and banana leaves. 

Medicinally, it is used to treat a variety of ailments, from colic too malaria to scorpion stings. It also encourages lactation in new mothers, promotes liver functioning, and, if you’re a fan of using oregano oil, using this fresh herb is a way of receiving all the benefits its volatile oils have to offer. Our resident tropical herbalist, The Garden Jules, says:  Cuban Oregano is one of my favorite medicinal and kitchen herbs. I love to dice the leaves and use them in soups and stews to add flavor and digestive benefits.The leaves can also be boiled or simmered to cleanse the air of your home space and kill any airborne pathogens and or as a herbal steam to clear congestion and mucus.This is a great ally for colds and flus, especially if one has a cough that won’t go away. I love to make a ginger Cuban oregano syrup for coughs but also as a digestive aperitif. The syrup added to sparkling water or herbal tea makes for a delicious beverage.”

We grow two varieties of cuban oregano, the more common “variegated cuban oregano” is green with white tips and variegation, and the harder to find “tricolor cuban oregano” which has an extra color thrown in, lime green. We’ve found that the “variegated” one has more scent and flavor and that the “tricolor” prefers less sun and more shade.