Water
Water Sweet Marjoram when the top 2-3 cm of soil feels dry to the touch. Avoid overwatering, as this can lead to root rot. Ensure the pot has good drainage. Water thoroughly until it drains from the bottom.
Reduce watering in cooler months.
Also known as Garden Marjoram · Knotted Marjoram · Major Ram
Sweet Marjoram (Origanum majorana) is an aromatic herb with a sweet, floral, and slightly spicy flavor, used in culinary dishes and traditional medicine.
At-a-glance light, water, soil, and growing conditions from plant data
Full sun.
100% intensity
Requires at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal growth and flavor development.
Allow soil to dry slightly between waterings.
50% intensity
Prefers well-drained soil and can tolerate some drought once established. Overwatering is detrimental.
Well-drained
50% intensity
Warm.
75% intensity
Thrives in temperatures between 20-27°C. Protect from frost; it is a perennial in warmer climates but often grown as an annual.
Outdoor
50% intensity
Low requirement.
25% intensity
Fertilize sparingly; too much can diminish flavor. A light feed in spring is usually sufficient.
Safety information from plant toxicity data
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Toxic for humans | No 0/5 intensity |
| Toxic for pets | No 0/5 intensity |
| Edible | Yes |
Non-toxic to pets and humans.
Key traits and growing stats from plant data
Watering, pruning, propagation, and repotting details from plant data
Water Sweet Marjoram when the top 2-3 cm of soil feels dry to the touch. Avoid overwatering, as this can lead to root rot. Ensure the pot has good drainage. Water thoroughly until it drains from the bottom.
Reduce watering in cooler months.
Prune Sweet Marjoram regularly to encourage bushier growth and prevent it from becoming leggy. Pinch back the tips of young plants to promote branching. Harvest sprigs frequently for culinary use.
Prune back by about one-third in late spring or early summer.
Sweet Marjoram can be propagated from seeds sown indoors in early spring or directly outdoors after the last frost. It can also be propagated from cuttings taken in late spring or early summer.
Softwood cuttings root easily in moist potting mix.
Repot Sweet Marjoram every 2-3 years or when it becomes root-bound. Choose a pot that is only slightly larger than the current one. Use a well-draining potting mix, ideally one formulated for herbs or succulents.
Repot in spring.
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Monthly activity intensity for bloom and fruit across both hemispheres.
Flowering & fruiting calendar
Flowering & fruiting calendar
Photos of Sweet Marjoram (Origanum majorana)
Where Sweet Marjoram (Origanum majorana) is found
Density
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Common names and botanical synonyms
Botanical classification
| Rank | Name |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Division | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Lamiales |
| Family | Lamiaceae |
| Genus | Origanum |
| Species | Origanum majorana |
Similar in genus Origanum
Answers based on plant encyclopedia data
