5 Uses Of Oregano Flowers

Are your oregano plants blooming and don’t know what to do with the flowers?

Should you just let these flowers grow, or would it be better if you pinch them off when they appear?

Are the oregano flowers edible, or should you just discard them?

These are only a few of the questions you’ll find an answer to in this article. Additionally, I’m going to share with you a few uses of the oregano flowers.

Oregano is an aromatic plant cultivated worldwide for its special taste that gives a distinctive flavor to many recipes. While most of us grow these herbs for their leaves, when they reach maturity, oregano plants develop flowers to produce seeds and to ensure the propagation of the plant.

If you are someone who has cultivated these herbs for the first time and have noticed that the oregano plants started to produce efflorescences, you need to know that that’s something perfectly normal. Moreover, it is a sign that the plants have reached their maturity and are ready to produce seeds.

The oregano flowers are small, grow in bouquets at the top of the stalks, and are typically white, pink, or light purple when they bloom.

When these flowers begin to appear, some people remove them to allow the plant to further develop and create new ramifications. I prefer just to let the plants flower. I’ll find a good use for the blooms afterward.

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Below are several uses for oregano flowers:

1. Cooking

Just as the leaves of the oregano plant, the flowers are edible as well. They do not contain any toxic substances and can be safely consumed in many dishes.

One thing to mention is that the flavor of the oregano flowers is not as strong as one of the green leaves. However, that doesn’t mean they are not suitable to be used in culinary.

Many foods do not require a very powerful aromatic taste. That’s when the oregano flowers are more suitable to be used than the leaves of this plant.

For instance, I love to add these flowers on homemade pizza, in salad toppings, or simply to decorate a plate.

2. Tea

Another usage for the flowers of oregano plants is for the preparation of teas.

Oregano tea is rich in antioxidants, has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral effects, and can reduce stress and anxiety. This tea is also believed to help you get rid of coughs, sore throat, and some digestive problems.

While you can make tea with a more intense taste only by using the leaves of oregano, the drink made out of the flowers of this plant has a lighter taste. You can also use both flowers and leaves in combination.

Collect the flower heads of oregano plants and let them dry on a piece of paper, in a warm place, but not directly in the sunlight.

Once they are fully dried, you can store them in a paper bag and enjoy the taste of oregano tea in any season.

3. DIY Home Decor

For the folks who are more creative and are passionate about DIY and home decor, the oregano flowers can also represent a way to let their creativity free.

You can cut off the oregano flower clusters and let them dry in a partially shaded place. Once they are dried, you can use these to create unique house decorations.

If dried in the right conditions, the flowerheads should keep their shape, petals, and color. You can also spray them with a bit of dried flower preserving spray (get one from Amazon) to keep their natural look for an extended time.

Once the flowers are ready, you can simply put them in a beautiful vase or use them in any of your DIY projects.

4. Grow More Oregano

While you can propagate the oregano plants from cuttings, another way to grow oregano is by seeds.

If you intend to cultivate oregano the next year and you want to save up some money, instead of buying the seeds, you can collect the seeds directly from your plants.

Wait until the flowers turn brown and are completely dried before you start collecting the seeds. Use the palm of your hand to gather the seeds or a bowl to make sure you don’t drop any of them on the ground.

Shake the flowers with your finger and the seeds should just fall out if they are dried enough. Just make sure not to lose them because the oregano seeds are very tiny.

5. Leave Them To Pollinators

If you allow the oregano plants to reach maturity, they will make lots of flowers.

Bees, butterflies, some species of flies, and all kinds of pollinating insects seem to adore the pollen from the flowers of oregano. Therefore, if you can’t find another use for these parts of the oregano plants, just leave them in their care. They will know how to put the flowers of oregano to good use.

Attracting these types of insects to your garden is also beneficial for other plants that are not self-pollinating, hence, depending on pollinators to produce fruits and for reproduction.

Conclusion

The flowers are edible parts of the oregano plant. These are known to be not as fragrant as the leaves of this plant, but this makes them more suitable for other appliances.

The leaves of the oregano plants have a stronger aroma before the plants start blooming. So you may want to harvest some leaves before these herbs produce flowers.

The next time your oregano plants produce flowers, I hope you know now a few additional uses for them.

What do you do with the flowers of your oregano plants? Leave a comment below.