![]() ![]() This easy-to-grow groundcover is an attractive addition to many landscapes. Planting thyme is an easy way to add fragrance and color to the garden. praecox, creeping thyme - mat-forming, grows only two to three inches tall, mauve, white, and crimson flowering cultivars available. pseudolanuginosus, wooly thyme - prostrate form, pubescent stems and leaves appear gray in color, good for rock gardens. citriodorus, lemon thyme - upright form, golden and variegated silver foliage available, strong lemon scent. serphyllum, wild thyme - prostrate and upright forms, cultivars provide flower colors ranging from red to purple, foliage can be green, gold, or variegated. vulgaris, common thyme - prostrate form, yellow and variegated foliage available, used in cooking. Listed below are some of the most common plants used in home landscapes and their characteristics. Many species, hybrids, and cultivars of thyme are available. The dried leaves and flowers of thyme can be used in sachets, and the essential oil of the herb is used in making colognes, soaps, and lotions. Thyme often is used in marinades, meat dishes, casseroles, stews, herb butters, and vegetable dishes. Fresh or dried leaves can be used in cooking. The flavor of thyme blends well with lemon, garlic, and basil. Thyme also can be used as an edging or border plant in herb gardens. Creeping thyme will tolerate occasional foot traffic and can be used between stepping stones along garden paths. Sunny windowsills are also great locations for containerized thyme. Only a few thyme species are used as landscape ornamentals. Thyme is easy to propagate from seed, cuttings, and division. Generally, prostrate forms of thyme overwinter better in Iowa than upright types. ![]() Cutting plants back will help them recover. Thyme is hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9, but can "melt out," or decline, during hot, humid summers. Plants used for culinary purposes should be replaced every few years to prevent the development of any undesirable, woody growth. Thyme should not be fertilized heavily because over-fertilized plants will become tall, spindly, and weak. Thyme can develop root rot and is susceptible to fungal diseases if grown in wet soils. In fact, most thyme species do best in coarse, gritty soils that would be unsuitable for many other plants. The flowers are very attractive to bees, and the honey made from thyme-fed bees is considered a culinary delicacy.Īll species of thyme prefer full sun and a well-drained soil. Flowers usually are lavender, red, or white depending on the cultivar. Flowers also sometimes form in the leaf axils of the plant. The tubular-shaped flowers occur in dense, terminal clusters and blanket plants in summer. It also is highly aromatic with each species having a slightly different scent. Thyme leaves are small, usually 1/2 inch or less in diameter and oval to oblong in shape. Thyme has both prostrate and upright habits. Thyme is a semi-evergreen groundcover that rarely grows more than 15 inches tall. Thyme has been valued throughout history for its fragrance, flavor, and ornamental value. The genus Thymus contains more than 300 different species and is in the mint family (Lamiaceae). Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.Thyme ( Thymus spp.) has been cultivated for many centuries. Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). Mother of thyme, Creeping thyme, Woolly Thyme IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking. If available other names are mentioned hereĬountries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is availableĪustralia, Canada, North America, Spain, Tasmania, Weed Potential Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 8cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Cuttings of young shoots, 5 - 8cm with a heel, May/June in a frame. Plant them out in the summer or the following spring. We have found that it is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are growing away well. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. This species is a hybrid and will not breed true from seed. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Seed can also be sown in autumn in a greenhouse. ![]() Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. ![]()
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