The plants have strongly aromatic leaves and abundant tubular flowers with long-lasting coloured bracts. The genus includes the important group of culinary herbs: marjoram (Origanum majorana) and oregano (Origanum vulgare).[7][8]
With their decorative bracts, Origanum species and cultivars are used as ornamental plants in the garden. The cultivars 'Kent Beauty'[9] and 'Rosenkuppel'[10] have received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Origanum scabrum Boiss. & Heldr. in P.E.Boissier - Greece
Origanum sipyleum L. -Turkey, Greek Islands
Origanum solymicum P.H.Davis - Antalya region of Turkey
Origanum symes Carlström - Islands of the Aegean Sea
Origanum syriacum L. - Turkey, Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, Israel, Sinai, Saudi Arabia
Origanum vetteri Briq. & Barbey - Crete
Origanum vogelii Greuter & Burdet - Turkey
Origanum vulgare L. - oregano - Europe, North Africa, temperate Asia (Iran, Siberia, Central Asia, China, etc.); naturalized in parts of North America, New Zealand, Venezuela
Formerly placed here
Pogostemon benghalensis (Burm.f.) Kuntze (as O. benghalense Burm.f.)