It's not oregano, and it's no relation, either. I know it as Mother of Herbs. It's Coleus amboinicus, also known as Plectranthus amboinicus, commonly known by any number of names including:

Queen of Herbs, Five in One Herb, Five Seasons Herb, Allherb, Country Borage, Indian Borage, Five Spice Herb, Chinese Three in One, Broad Leafed Thyme, Spanish Thyme, Spanish Sage, Puerto Rican Oregano.

It's the herb you use when you don't know what herb to use! Tough as old nails, can get weedy, but not that hard to control. Groundcover, prefers full sun. Flower spikes may get as long as 1 metre, quite attractive in a stark sort of way.

Never knew Cuban oregano went by so many different names.

That's the trouble with common names... they are different everywhere you go.

Here they sell it as Cuban Oregano or as the "Vicks plant" as the fragrance is very much like Vicks vapor rub.

I can't imagine ingesting it...the smell is so powerful that my palate says "smell but don't taste."

Vick's Plant is a close relative of Mother of Herbs, but is not the same plant. It's Plectranthus tomentosa, a perennial plant with leaves that smell like Vick's Vap-O-Rub or mentholatum when crushed.

Mother of Herbs (Cuban Oregano etc) is also called 3-in-one, 5-in-one, 7-in-one or even 10-in one! The numbers refer to the number of different aromas resembling that of other herbs which can be detected by individual people, including sage, thyme, oregano and basil. It tastes like any or a combination of these, depending on a person's individual taste perception.

My daughter-in-law has a Spanish Sage plant(mother of herbs) that looks like that. I was wondering what is the best way to start one and do they do well as a houseplant. Would it be a perennial in Southwest Michigan. Thank you for your advice.

Mother is Herbs is very easy to grow from cuttings. You don't even have to be careful with the cut! Just break off a piece (as small or large as you like), stick the end in the dirt, and off it will go. It's happiest in the garden, because it's a sprawling groundcover and likes full sun. It can get away from you a bit and become a weed, but it's one that's fairly easily controlled, just by pulling out the bits you don't want.

Tell you how tough it is - I've left pieces lying on concrete in the fiercest of our subtropical summer sun, for several days. Once they were stuck in the dirt - they grew! This plant is very quick to strike roots.

It's botanically classified as a perennial. In cold climates you can bring some indoors over winter. (Just start a new plant at any time - it might be awkward bringing in the whole lot, if you don't have it in a pot.)

Thank you daisy. I am going to have her start me one and have my son bring it to me when he comes visit in November. As I've said before this forum is great for us newbies that aren't that familiar with herbs.

Hi just curious . How do I use this plant . Drying tips cooking ideas etc . Thank you.

You look at it, NOT eat it.