Characteristics:
Small,
glossy green leaves clustered along slender woody stems and charming clusters
of white or pink flowers in summer. It grows to 12 inches high. It's an excellent
edger or front-of-the-border plant. Growing
Information:
Plant
thyme in well-drained, sandy soil and full sun. Thyme also grows well in containers.
Space plants 12 to 18 inches apart. Cut the woody stems back by about half
in spring to encourage healthy new growth. Divide clumps every couple of years
to keep them tidy and vigorous. Propagation:
The
easiest way to propagate thyme is to divide it in spring. You can also root
stem cuttings. Cultivars:
Cultivars
of this species include 'Broadleaf English' and 'Variegated English'. Possible
Problems:
If
your thyme has problems with fungus, thin out thick-growing mats to encourage
better air circulation. Provide very good drainage to discourage root rot. Harvesting
and Using:
Harvest
thyme sprigs just before bloom for maximum flavor. You can also harvest earlier
and later in the season, but stop harvesting in late summer to discourage winter
damage. Use thyme when cooking meat, potatoes, soups, creamed dishes, stuffings,
and for teas and wreaths. Related
Herbs:
Caraway
thyme (T.
Herba-barona)
is a rapidly spreading, low-growing herb with a distinctive aroma. Mother-of-thyme
or wild thyme is T.
pulegioides,
which
includes cultivars such as 'Fosterflower', 'Gold Dust', and 'Oregano-Scented'.
Other Mother-of-thyme cultivars are 'Annie Hall', 'Coccineus', 'Hall's Woolly',
and 'White Moss'. Golden
lemon thyme (T.
x citriodorus)
is a low, spreading shrub. Golden yellow leaves are small and oval and quite
fragrant when crushed. |