Growing Mexican Oregano Plants (Lippia Graveolens)

What Is Mexican Oregano

What is Mexican Oregano? Well the Mexican oregano plant (Lippia Graveolens) is a member of the Verbenaceae family and is native to the south western United States, Mexico and right the way down through Central America.

It is an evergreen shrub or small tree that will reach up to about 8 feet in height if allowed to go unchecked. It is identifiable by small fluffy leaves and clusters of fragrant white or yellowish flowers.

Varieties Of Mexican Oregano (Lippia Graveolens)

Whilst you won’t find different varieties you will see or hear of the Mexican oregano plant being referred to by a different name. Scented Lippia, Redbrush Lippia, Oregano Cimmaron and Scented Matgrass are some of the names you will hear. You may even hear of it referred to as Curly Leaf Oregano and this stems from the fact that when dried out, the leaves tend to curl up.

Planting Mexican Oregano

Mexican oregano plants are quite hardy, drought resistant evergreen plants that love well drained soil and full sun but will still do well in slightly shaded spots and are a good candidate for Container Growing.

From Seed – to grow Mexican oregano from seeds we would advise starting off indoors in seed trays. You want to put about half a dozen seeds, about 1/4inch (5mm) deep in seed mix and then keep the soil moist. Germination takes 10 – 14 days on average but will sometimes take a little longer.

Once the last frosts have passed and your seedlings have established themselves with 3 or 4 true leaves, they are ready to be planted out but should be hardened off fist by either gradual exposure to the outdoors or moving them into a greenhouse. (Check out our article on choosing a greenhouse)

Whether you’re planting into a bed or planning on growing in a container, you want to bury the seedling in a good quality soil to just below the first leaves as this will allow better establishment of the rooting system. Keep plants spaced out about 12 inches.

From Seedlings – this is always a good option if you can find them but Mexican oregano seedlings are not the most common of seedlings.

From Cuttings – this method is relatively straightforward in practice but sometimes seems a little more complicated than it actually is.

You need to find a new section of growth and cut a stem of about 8 inches, angling your cut about 45 degrees and removing all leaves from the bottom third.

Now dip the cut end of the stem in a rooting powder (hormone) and plant in a free draining compost up to just below the first set of leaves.

Keep the newly planted cuttings in a sheltered location and then transplant into their final growing positions after about 4 weeks.

By Division – this is a remarkably easy method but somewhat terrifying the first time you do it. Take an established Mexican oregano plant and in the early spring dig it up with the root intact and then cut right through the centre of the root ball and separate the two parts. You now have two Mexican oregano plants which you should quickly replant at a distance of at least 12 inches from each other.

Caring For Mexican Oregano Plants

Caring for this herb is pretty straightforward as it is a fairly hardy and drought resistant plant, in fact one thing you need to be careful of is overwatering it as this can lead to root rot.

There are no particular demands around the use of fertilizer and I simply fertilize about once a month using either my Homemade Organic Liquid Fertilizer or, if I have none ready, a shop bought all-purpose organic fertilizer

Lippia Graveolens doesn’t like freezing temperatures so if you get cold winters then try and take any plants indoors to keep them protected but don’t worry if you can’t as although they will lose their leaves, they will burst back into life in the spring.

If you live somewhere with warm winters then the plant should just remain evergreen throughout the year.

Pruning Mexican oregano plants is necessary as they will become a little wild an unruly if you don’t so allow it to get to the size and shape you want and then keep it tamed. The plus point with pruning is that you can then use the leaves you’ve just removed.

Mexican Oregano Pests And Diseases

Luckily this is not a plant that suffers in any specific way from pest infestations and you just have the usual considerations of aphids etc.

The plant is quite susceptible to root rot and the best way to avoid this is to ensure you plant in well draining soil and don’t overwater. For more information on general pests and diseases, take a look at our article HERE.

Uses For Mexican Oregano

Well the flavour isn’t a million miles from normal oregano but it certainly has a more grassy and pungent property to it with citrus flavours and more sweetness but less bitterness.

The flavour profile means that this herb works really well with Mexican food as it pairs well with cumin and chilli so give it a try in your chilli, salsas and soups.

If you’re working off a recipe but realise you have exhausted your supply then the best Mexican oregano substitute is normal oregano as this is probably the closest flavour match you will find.

As with many herbs the Mexican oregano plant can be used to make a refreshing tea by steeping the leaves (dried or fresh) in boiled water.

Beyond simple refreshment, oregano tea has been used to treat respiratory illness and issues such as stomach cramps and diarrhoea.

Another great use for this plant, often overlooked when we’re concentrating on what we can do with the final product, is that it’s just a wonderful plant to grow that produces lovely blooms attracting bees, birds and butterflies to your garden. This leads to a healthier garden.

Mexican Oregano Planting – Quick Reference Guide

Planting Guide	Information
POSITION:	Full sun to partial shade
SOIL:	Well drained
PLANTING:	Can be grown in pots or planted out as seedlings after the last frost has passed. Should be planted in well draining soil with 12 inches between plants.
FROST TOLERANT?	Yes
HEAT TOLERANT?	Yes - highly drought resistant
FEEDING:	No feeding required if planted out. Occasional, general liquid fertilizer if in pots.
PLANT GROUP:	A perennial herb and part of the Verbena family
PESTS AND DISEASES:	No specific pest or disease issues
HARVESTING:	Suitable for year round harvesting. For best flavour try to harvest the leaves in the morning