Oregano related to the herb marjoram, sometimes being referred to as wild marjoram. Oregano has purple flowers and spade-shaped, olive-green leaves. It is a perennial, although it is grown as an annual in colder climates, as it often does not survive the winter. Oregano is planted in early spring, the plants being spaced apart in fairly dry soil, with full sun. Oregano will grow in a pH range between 6.0 (mildly acidic) and 9.0 (strongly alkaline), with a preferred range between 6.0 and 8.0. It prefers a hot, relatively dry climate, but does well in other environments. Many subspecies and strains
Cheddar Gorge at the gorge include dormice, yellow-necked mice, slowworms and adders and the rare large blue butterfly ("Maculinea arion"), and small pearl-bordered fritillary ("Boloria selene"). A wide variety of wild birds may be seen in Cheddar Gorge including peregrine falcons, buzzards, kestrels, ravens and the grasshopper warbler ("Locustella naevia"). The flora include chalk grassland-loving species such as marjoram and wild thyme. The Cheddar pink, "Dianthus gratianopolitanus", also known as firewitch, only grows in the wild in the gorge. It was once common in the gorge but declined after being picked by collectors. It is also home to unique species of whitebeam.