Thyme, English - Thymus vulgaris
300 Seeds
Sow April - June
Hardy perennial.
Height 30cm (12in), spread 20cm (8in).
Prefers a light, dry, well-drained soil on a warm, sunny site.
Sow in open ground or cold frames.
Thin out seedlings as they grow to 5cm apart. Plant out during September and October spacing 30cm apart for flowering throughout the following summer.
This small, shrub like plant has numerous square, green-brown stems, which become woody in the second season. The thin, green leaves are very aromatic and covered in fine hairs. The small white, pink, mauve or purple flowers appear early to mid-summer. Attactive to bees and butterflies.
Thyme - English
From the family Lamiaceae.
A native to Europe and the Mediterranean region, this is a genus comprising numerous species that are very diverse in appearance and come from many different parts of the world. Thymus is derived from the the Greek word 'thymon', meaning courage. Roman soldiers bathed in thyme water to give themselves vigour. They also used it to purify and fumigate their rooms. In the Middle Ages, European ladies embroidered a sprig of thyme on tokens for their knights errant. It was also said that drinking it was part of a ritual to enable one to see fairies. The powerful antiseptic and preservative porperties were well known to the Egyptians, who used it for embalming.