Comments on: What am I smoking?

Question: What am I smoking?

mzurer — Fri, 16 May 2008 08:45:17 -0800

What herb am I growing? Here's the wide view, the buds, and the leaves.

I was told it's oregano, but now I am not so sure. It smells good, and oregano-ish, but maybe a little more minty than I normally think of for oregano. The flowers that are popping out are whitish, but maybe if I let them go a little longer they would have more color.

By: vers

vers — Fri, 16 May 2008 08:51:06 -0800

Marjoram; very closely related to oregano.

By: mygothlaundry

mygothlaundry — Fri, 16 May 2008 09:51:04 -0800

It looks like oregano to me. There are a ton of different oregano varieties; your friendly neighborhood herb shop / garden shop might be able to tell you which one you've got.

By: konolia

konolia — Fri, 16 May 2008 10:02:14 -0800

I'd guess marjoram. I'm pretty sure that's in the oregano family-your herb definitely is but is not the same oregano I presently grow.

By: oneirodynia

oneirodynia — Fri, 16 May 2008 10:05:03 -0800

Looks like marjoram to me, too. It's a favorite herb of mine- sweeter, a little less pungent than oregano. It's best fresh- the dried gets sort of musty flavored. It's my favorite addition to egg dishes, especially egg salad. Also lovely in salsa.

By: IAmBroom

IAmBroom — Fri, 16 May 2008 12:19:03 -0800

FWIW, oregano & marjoram are both in the mint family of plants... so it's not too surprising that a particular variant within those domestic strains smells minty.

By: Kioki-Silver

Kioki-Silver — Fri, 16 May 2008 18:01:33 -0800

Odd, from those pictures I would've said sage.
Sage photo

By: Kioki-Silver

Kioki-Silver — Fri, 16 May 2008 18:02:08 -0800

oops lets try that again, http://www.herbalthai.com/images/Sage.gif sorry

By: nax

nax — Sat, 17 May 2008 02:21:48 -0800

Looks like a sage or salvia variety to me, from the leaves, but the blossoms don't fit the ones I know.

By: oneirodynia

oneirodynia — Sat, 17 May 2008 10:07:02 -0800

Salvia and Origanum are both in the Lamiaceae family, so they do share characteristics (opposite leaves is one of them). However, the growth habit in the large picture is not really like culinary sage, which tends to be more mound-like; and neither are the buds. Salvia officinalis is not known for having red stems. I'm growing both marjoram and sage right now, and the picture is definitely an Origanum species.

By: wilful

wilful — Sun, 18 May 2008 22:58:13 -0800

golden marjoram to my mind. Got some in my garden.