Wild Majoram??

[datz]

I've got loads of this growing in bits of the garden, it looks like Majoram, it smells like Majoram. Is it? It would be great if it was! What do you think?

[roitelet]

It does look like it, you could wait until it flowers to be sure. We have loads growing round here.

[mothhawk]

Looks like it to me. It's a native of Mediterranean regions, and while the Auvergne isn't on the Med,I'm sure it's close enough to find oregano growing wild.

[Two_Sheds]

Yep, it looks just like mine (oregano)

[PyreneesPlot]

We have loads growing wild, too. Doesn't taste as good as the cultivated plant we bought, but the bees like the flowers.

[datz]

It's now in flower and is definitely Majoram! The bees and butterflies love it.

[PyreneesPlot]

Ours is covered in gatekeeper butterflies in particular, as well as bees and the odd stealthy spider.

[starloc]

I was at a model flying championships about 10 years ago in france at airport saint-yan , great areas of the field were covered with this i thought it was orgeano, it smelt great at first but after 10 days sleeping in a tent it got a bit much

[datz]

These are the ones on ours. Brown Frittilaries?

[Martin H]

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These are the ones on ours. Brown Frittilaries?

It's really hard to tell the fritillaries apart just from the upper sides. I have found this site helpful in the past, it's inconclusive here but based on the lack of an "indented third spot" I'm guessing it's not the High Brown. To be honest I'd probably have gone for a Small Pearl-bordered.

UK Butterflies - Similar Species

Did you get a good look at the underside?

[datz]

Thanks Martin, that could be the one especially with this description.
"....found in deciduous woodland containing open areas, such as woodland clearings, that provide the right conditions, foodplants and nectar sources for this species to thrive. This butterfly can also be found in conifer plantations"

We live in France in a clearing in the middle of a mixed forest with lots of conifers so that fits the bill!

I've never lived anywhere before with so many butterflies and bees, they are all over the garden. It's lovely to see, apart from the dratted cabbage white (thank you enviromesh for saving my brassicas!).

[swaine]

amazing, I love the wild found herbs, wild Auvergne marjoram, sounds great a market opportunity if I ever saw one

I've got loads of this growing in bits of the garden, it looks like Majoram, it smells like Majoram. Is it? It would be great if it was! What do you think?

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