Thyme -- Thymus vulgaris

The genus thymus is a Greek word for 'courage.' The name also may be derived from a Greek term meaning to fumigate because the herb was burned to repel insects from the house. Fairies were thought to live in a bed of thyme. Historically, it has had a medicinal reputation. A soup of beer and thyme was used to overcome shyness, while a tea of wild thyme was used by Scots to gain strength and courage and to prevent nightmares.
Description
This small, shrublike plant has numerous quadrangular, woody stems that are finely covered with hair. The opposite, sessile leaves are 1/4 to 1/2 inch long, ovate to lanceolate, and slightly rolled at the edges with a pale, hairy underside. The bluish purple to pink flowers are tubular, two-lipped, and less than 1/4 inch long. They are arranged in whorled terminal clusters . The fruit is comprised of four tiny, seedlike nutlets.
Plant type and hardiness
Perennial; hardiness zones 5 to 9.
Height and width
Height 12 inches; width 10 to 12 inches.
Light and soil
Full sun to partial shade; light, dry, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.3.
Pests and disease
Root rot, fungal diseases, and spider mites.
Cultivation
In spring, sow seeds in a seed tray or scatter directly onto the ground. Keep plants moist while young. Thin to about 6 inches apart. Once well established, thyme does not require much watering or any fertilizer. Propagation by root division should be done in spring. Divide the bush into smaller parts, making sure each piece has rootlets attached. Cuttings should be taken in late spring. Insert 4-inch shoot tips into
pots of sand medium and keep them well watered.
Propagation method
June and July; bluish purple to pink.
Bloom time and color
Harvest the leafy branches just before the plant flowers. Gather them on a dry day after the dew has dried and before midday. Hang in bundles upside down in a shady, dry, airy place. When the leaves are crisp to the touch, strip them from the stems and store in airtight containers. Seeds, layering, cuttings, or division.
Herbal uses
Aromatic, cosmetic, culinary, decorative, and medicinal. The dried flowers and leaves scent potpourris and sachets. Thyme also is used as an antiseptic and stimulant in herb lotions and baths. Thyme has a strong piquant or lemony flavor. For fresh use,
the flavor is best just before flowering. Enhance the flavor of meat, fish, poultry stuffings, stews, soups, bread, mayonnaise, mushrooms, and broccoli dishes. For chicken and fish marinades, bruise fresh sprigs of thyme and tarragon, and combine with red-wine vinegar and olive oil. Use in herb butters and cottage cheese. Thyme may be added to salads. It is used in wreaths and in floral arrangements. Thyme can be grown in containers. It is said to have some medicinal qualities.
Insider's Secret
Thyme is said to repel cabbage root flies. Since bees are strongly attracted to thyme, plant where pollination is required (e.g., with tomatoes). This plant spreads nicely and provided a showy display of flowers in August and September, if plants are set out late in the season. Visitors admired these low-growing plants, which are very effective on the edges of garden borders.

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