Thyme, Thymus - Flowering Perennials

Thymes are an interesting and varied group of plants. Small leaved and drought resistant, they are highly aromatic, used in cookery and also folksongs (along with parsley, sage and rosemary).

They are mostly low-growing or creeping plants good in the rockery and for ground cover in hot sunny situations. The pink or purple flowers are attractive to bees and add extra interest to the often variegated foliage.

An interesting use of Thyme is when they are planted in gaps in paving slabs along a walkway or in a patio. Prince Charles at Highgrove House has a particularly good and well known collection planted in this way along a "thyme walk" where the plants grow and creep along the paving slabs. While they are not resilient to being continually walked over, they will release their scent where the leaves are occasionally crushed in this manner adding an extra dimension.

Thymes are at their best and most fragrant in full sun, though they tolerate some shade, the variegated forms show their colors best in full sun.

Propagation is by seed sown in a cold frame in spring or by cuttings in mid to late summer. Thyme is trouble free from pests and diseases, if they don't grow well it's usually because there's not enough sun, the soil is too damp or acidic or that there's too much competition as they are not especially fast or tall growers and can be easily shaded.