Oregano (Origanum vulgare) is a species of flowering plant in the mint family Lamiaceae. It was native to the Mediterranean region but widely naturalized elsewhere in the temperate Northern Hemisphere. Oregano is a woody perennial plant. The flowers can be white, pink, or light purple, and are produced in erect spikes in summer. It is widely used as a culinary herb, especially in Turkish, Greek, Spanish, Italian, Hispanic, and French cuisine. Oregano is also an ornamental plant, with numerous cultivars bred for varying leaf colour, flower colour and habit. According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the name comes from two ancient Greek words: oros and ganos. Oros means mountain and ganos meaning brightness. Put together, the word means “brightness of the mountain.” The ancient Greeks believed it was created by Aphrodite, the goddess of love, beauty, passion, and procreation. She cultivated the herb on her Mount Olympus garden, making it a symbol of happiness and joy throughout all of Greece. In ancient Greece, newlyweds wore the herb as crowns at their weddings. This tradition is still carried on today by some Greeks! Additionally, oregano plants were placed on gravestones to pay respect to ancestors and spirits Our award-winning product gives your salad extra Mediterranean flavor. Use Midas Gardens Oregano salad dressing in other creations as well. Discover new ideas for using it through our recipe page.