National Plant Collection of Origanum vulgare cvs.

National Plant Collection® of Origanum vulgare cvs.

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These are a few webpages about my National Plant Collection® of Origanum vulgare cvs., that is, a living plant collection of the cultivars (cultivated varieties) of Origanum vulgare, known mostly as oregano. It is a very widespread wild species native throughout Europe and parts of Asia and it's form does obviously vary throughout the distribution, as does it's flavour, as does the local common name. In the UK the milder flavoured native wild growing plants are known as wild marjoram. Marjoram is a name which in culinary terms is applied to Origanum majorana, otherwise known as sweet marjoram or knotted marjoram. The common name oregano usually refers to forms with a stronger flavour whose wild forms are more often associated with southern Europe. This collection is horticultural (plants that are in cultivation) and not botanical (wild growing plants), comprised mostly of horticulturally named variations (cultivars) from around the world, some of which will have a wild origin, variations developing during cultivation, propagated and so distributed.

To see the full distribution of purely wild forms go to Plants of the World Online [POWO]

The National Plant Collection scheme was created by and is maintained by Plant Heritage, a conservation Charity in the UK and Ireland set up to counteract the total loss of mainly garden worthy plants throughout the British Isles. Fashions change in gardening as in all walks of life and if a nursery can't make money from propagated plants they are eventually going to stop listing them. A particular form of species may survive for some years in a few private gardens, but the way to survive is to be grown as widely as possible. An alternate is to grown them in an dedicated ongoing living Collection. Each National Plant Collection (often shortened to National Collection) is owned by the individual or organisation that looks after the plants and the considerable costs involved are carried solely by the owners, whilst maintaining the high standards set out by Plant Heritage. Why do we do it then? A passion for the subjects of out Collection(s) and our wish to make sure that the particular forms do not die out completely. There are not National Plant Collection for every group of plants, there are not enough volunteers yet, but the numbers continue to increase. To see what genera, species, or historical group have a Collection click here.

Plant Heritage was originally created as the National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens (NCCPG) after a conference called by the Royal Horticultural Society to discuss the complete loss to horticulture of so many garden worthy, but unfashionable, plants. Over the years the structure and degree of diversity have developed and now include a Plant Guardian scheme, Threatened Plants Project, local Groups to educate and encourage ordinary gardeners to grow and propagate as wide a range of plants as they can, and the National Plant Collections of which there are now over 700 including nearly 100,000 different forms of garden and wild plants.