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A wide variety of plants growing in the Medieval Herb Garden on a sunny day

Medieval herb garden blog 91: Marjoram

Thursday, October 08, 2026

Week 91 volunteer update

More cutting back this week. Kim tackled the fleabane and tidied the rhubarb. Meanwhile Carole cut back the hyssop, winter savory and garden rue.

Cutting plants back often leads us to discover hidden surprises. As its autumn, mushrooms and toadstools are starting to appear on site!

Four mushrooms emerging from the ground in the medieval herb garden.

The arrival of autumn is marked by the appearance of mushrooms and toadstools!

Plant of the week: Marjoram (origanum majorana)

'Origanum' comes from Classical Greek 'orī́ganon'. The ultimate origin is disputed; however, some claim it is a compound Greek term. It may consist of 'óros' meaning 'mountain', and 'gános' meaning 'joy', thus 'joy of the mountain'.

'Marjoram' comes from the Medieval Latin 'Maiorana', the origin of which is also uncertain. Over time, its spelling and pronunciation in European languages was influenced by the Latin word 'major'. By the late 14th century, the plant appeared in Middle English as 'majorane' or 'mageram'. Its other names are sweet marjoram and knotted marjoram.

Marjoram is native to the Mediterranean and Western Asia. It is an aromatic, bushy, semi-evergreen, perennial, undershrub. It prefers to grow in full sun, in south-facing well-drained, neutral or alkaline, chalk or loam. It grows to a height of 3 ft (90 cm) with a width of 18 inches (46 cm).

The leaves are simple, with a small stalk. They are oval or slightly elongated, about 0.2–0.6 inches long and 0.1–0.3 inches wide. The tip is rounded, the edges are smooth, and the base narrows evenly. The veins form a net-like pattern. The texture of the leaf is extremely smooth due to the presence of numerous hairs.

The plant produces flowers between June and September. They are small, bisexual, and usually white to pale pink in colour. They are arranged in dense clusters at the ends of the stems and in the leaf axils. The flowers have a tubular, two-lipped (bilabiate) corolla, with an upper lip and a three-lobed lower lip.

Marjoram has a 'sweet, and herbaceous scent with spicy, camphorous, and woody undertones'. The flowers and leaves of marjoram are steam-distilled to produce a yellowish essential oil that darkens to brown with age.

Marjoram roots are shallow just beneath the soil surface, spreading outward to sprout new shoots over a wide area. Poor drainage can quickly cause root rot.

It produces light to dark brown extremely tiny, dust-like seeds. There are about 5,000 seeds to the gram.

Marjoram in flower in the Medieval Herb Garden.

Culinary uses of marjoram

Marjoram adds subtle 'floral, citrusy, piney flavour' to savoury dishes. These include soups, stews, roasted meats, sausage, stuffings, root vegetables, tomato sauces and herb butters.

It is included as a core ingredient in many classic Italian and Herbes de Provence mixes.

Fresh marjoram should be added near the end of cooking to protect its delicate flavour. Dried marjoram is added earlier in the cooking process so it can fully release its flavour.

Use of marjoram as a dye plant

Marjoram produces soft natural shades of yellow, gold, olive green, orange, brown, beige, and grey on natural fibres.

Folklore and other facts about marjoram

Marjoram was known to the Ancient Greeks and Romans as a symbol of happiness and was also thought to increase a person’s lifespan. They also placed it on tombs to bring peace to the dead.

In Greek mythology, the goddess of love, Aphrodite, created sweet marjoram. She planted it on Mount Olympus as a symbol of joy, peace, and honour.

Because of its link to the goddess of love, the herb was frequently added to love potions and spells to strengthen romantic devotion.

Both Ancient Greeks and Romans wove marjoram into crowns and garlands for newlyweds. It was thought to bless marriages with harmony, affection, and fertility.

In medieval Europe, people carried marjoram to ease sorrow, comfort grief, and cure a heavy heart. They also planted it near doorways or hung it in rooms to ward off evil spirits, bring safety, and fill households with calm strength.

Medieval medicinal uses of marjoram*

Ancient Egyptians used marjoram oil to treat infections and during embalming. Greek physicians like Hippocrates and Dioscorides used marjoram for sore throats, coughs, and chest ailments. Ancient Greeks and Romans used it as a cure for narcotic poisons, convulsions, and dropsy.

Marjoram has been used as an all-purpose medicinal herb. It treated digestive upsets, respiratory infections, and joint pain. It was also used to treat cancer, colds, cramps, depression, headaches, diseases of the brain, ear infections, paralysis and arthritis. It was used as a diuretic, a mouthwash, and as an aphrodisiac.

People also carried marjoram in sachets or used it as a strewing herb to ward off bad smells and 'airborne sicknesses'.

*Needless to say, this isn't to be considered medical advice from us to you today! No herbs mentioned in these blogs should be used as medicine without advice from a doctor.

Medieval herb garden blogs

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