![]() ![]() Spittlebugs might visit once in a while hosing off the foamy goo early in the morning will get rid of it. Pests and Diseases: Thyme is deer and rabbit resistant, and it isn't prone to pests or diseases other than root rot associated with overwatering. Thyme benefits from a layer of mulch (steer clear of the base of the plant) to protect its roots from hard winter freezes. Cutting it back in early spring or late fall will encourage new growth, and reduce the plant's "woodiness." Too much fertilization can make it look leggy, so don't overindulge this herb. It's hardy, easy to grow, and only needs a little attention to retain a tidier looking plant. Thyme Management: Thyme isn't the kind of plant that needs you to feed it grapes and fan it with ostrich feathers. The tiny blossoms encircle the top third or quarter of the plant's longest stems, interspersed with the tiny leaves for a dense, colorful display.įoliage: Medium to dark green oval leaves, about 1/4" to 1/2" long, grow directly from woody stems in an alternating pattern.Īroma: Fresh or dried thyme has a smoky, minty fragrance. Growth Habits: Common thyme is a compact, shrubby, upright grower, reaching as high and wide as 12 inches each dimension.įlowers: White, pink, or light purple blooms begin in May and continue through late July, attracting pollinators and other beneficial insects. Moisture Requirements: Thyme is drought-resistant, and does best in dry to medium soil. Sunlight Requirements: Thyme prefers full sun, but will tolerate late afternoon shade. It grows best in neutral to alkaline soils, and 6.5 to 7 is the sweet spot. ![]() Soil Requirements: Common thyme is no princess, and thrives in most any well-drained soil. Growing Zones: Thymus vulgaris is an evergreen herbaceous perennial in USDA hardiness zones 5-9. Whether or not you choose to share the bounty of your herbal harvest with holier-than-thou HOA members is up to you, but sometimes, the best revenge involves being maddeningly generous. If you live in an area where your water bills are high, or where irrigation restrictions make neighbors shame one another for growing more tender, moisture-loving plants, thyme makes a good xeriscaping plant. Then, you can don a ninja gardening suit, join the Guerrilla Gardening movement and seed-bomb vacant lots and other neglected areas in your city, thus saving the planet and entitling you to some serious smugness. If you're a good citizen you'll plant enough thyme to cover every inch of your available outdoor space. They do best in areas away from continuous irrigation, and all do well as container plants.Īccording to the Missouri Botanical Garden, thyme is considered an air pollution filtering plant, but it only thrives indoors if it's placed in a very sunny, warm window. Quality Thyme in Your GardenĬommon, culinary thyme, as well as its creeping varieties, make fantastic rock garden plants. No matter how you use thyme concentrates, you'll want to check with your doctor (or master apiculturist) before you do. Thyme and honey bees go hand in hand honey made from thyme nectar is considered among the most divine, and thymol (natural thyme oil) is regularly used by beekeepers as a natural weapon against both tracheal and varroa mites. Its active chemicals are camphene and alpha-pinene, known for their anti-oxidizing, antifungal, and antimicrobial properties. Herbalists use Thymus vulgaris much the same as they do other woody perennials in the Lamiaceae family. It's no surprise, then, that sprigs of time, when stashed in cupboards and drawers, repelled nasty insects and left linens with a pleasing odor. ![]() Thyme is an ingredient for fragrances, and it has a role in traditional and ancient embalming methods. "It was an emblem of activity, bravery, and energy, and in the days of chivalry, it was the custom for ladies to embroider a bee hovering over a sprig of thyme on the scarves they presented to their knights." Thyme smoke is still used today to repel mosquitos. Ancient Greeks touted its smoke's cleansing properties and its ability to fend off venomous beasts. It wasn't used by early cultures as a culinary herb other than to flavor cheeses and wine. Without further ado, it's thyme to get on with it and learn about growing Thymus vulgaris, one of the best-loved culinary herbs and garden accent plants! Geographic and Cultural OriginsĬommon thyme is native to southern Europe, the Mediterranean, and western Asia. Family Jewels milkweed ( Asclepias hysocarpus ).Cockhold herb ( Bidens connata ).um.Drop it, Joe.Imagine if we were working with these lovelies: Having said that, we apologize in advance if things get a little cheesy.and we'd like to remind you that things could be much, much worse. Sometimes, though, when faced with such low-hanging fruit as common garden thyme, even the most stoic and cynical have to surrender and roll with it. Everyone knows someone who can't pass up an opportunity for wordplay. ![]()
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