Oregano is a perennial medicinal and culinary herb and sprouts anew every year from a richly branched rootstock. The 40 to 60 centimetres high, square and upright stems become slightly woody towards the bottom. The leaves are egg-shaped to oblong and slightly hairy. They are about three centimetres long, either entire or slightly notched. From July to September oregano bears pink to purple flowers in umbels or panicles. They have a white hairy calyx at the upper edge.