Thyme (Thymus)

The Thymus They are a very interesting genus of plants, highly recommended to have in the garden or, better yet, in the kitchen window. Its maintenance is simple, since they only require a few waterings a week and small pruning called pinching simply to control their growth.

It is possible that the scientific name does not sound like anything to you, but the common one I am sure you will know: thyme. But even if it’s hard to believe, there are many types, so then I’m going to talk about the most popular ones.

Origin and characteristics of the Thymus

The genus is made up of about 300 species of evergreen and aromatic herbs and subshrubs native to temperate regions of Europe, Asia, North Africa, and Greenland. They grow to heights between 10 and 70 centimeters, with more or less erect and highly branched stems from which small, whole, green leaves sprout. The flowers are grouped in corymbs and appear during spring.

Some of them have both medicinal and culinary uses, as you will see now:

Main species

Common thyme

Known as thyme, it is a subshrub native to central and southern Europe that grows between 13 and 40 centimeters tall. Its leaves are small, oval and green in color although tomentose on the underside. The flowers are pink.

Uses and properties

Leaves are used as a condiment. In addition, it is a good antiseptic (if applied on wounds), anti-inflammatory and used to treat laryngitis, bronchitis and diarrhea.

Thymus masticina

Known as wild marjoram, white thyme, white lavender, moraduz, or almoraduz, it is a subshrub endemic to the center and south of the Iberian Peninsula that reaches a height of 50 centimeters maximum. Its leaves are small, opposite, simple and green, and in spring it produces white flowers.

thymus zygis

Known as salsero thyme, it is a subshrub native to the interior of the Iberian Peninsula that grows up to 20 centimeters tall. It produces small, linear leaves, grayish green on the upper surface and tomentose on the underside. The flowers are grouped in inflorescences of white color.

Uses

In the kitchen it is used to marinate olives and as a spice in roasts.

Thyme broom

Known as serpol, moongrass, or thyme from the mount serpolio, it is a lively woody plant native to central and northern Europe. Reaches 50 centimeters in heightand its leaves are elongated or rounded, and green. The flowers are grouped in inflorescences and are lilac in color.

Uses and properties

It’s used as a seasoning for stews and roastsbut also as a medicinal plant since it is antiseptic, antipyretic, febrifuge and apart from that it also helps with digestion.

Thyme pepperella

Known as pebrella thyme, olive thyme or pepper thyme, it is a subshrub native to Europe that grows up to 30 centimeters tall. Its leaves are small, ovate and green, and it produces pink flowers.

Uses

To dress olives. It is one of the most appreciated species for that purpose 🙂. It is also excellent as a condiment for tomato sauces, meats, stews, marinades and rice.

Winter thyme

Known as winter thyme, it is a subshrub native to the Iberian Peninsula that grows to 40-50 centimeters tall. Its leaves are small, decusada or fasciulate, linear and green in color. The flowers are whitish in color.

Thymus citriodorus

Known as lemon thyme or citrus thyme, it is a subshrub that reaches 20 centimeters in height. The leaves are green or green with a whitish / yellowish margin, opposite. The flowers are pink to lavender in color.

Uses and properties

Its leaves they are consumed in salads, and are used as flavorings or in infusion. It has antiseptic and deodorant properties, and it also serves to alleviate the symptoms of respiratory diseases such as colds.

Precocious thymus

Known as serpol serrano, it is a subshrub native to the mountain meadows of Europe. Grows to a height of 10 centimeterswith opposite, obovate and green leaves. The flowers are lilac.

Uses and properties

Its leaves are used for their properties anxiolytics, vermifuge and cough suppressants.

Thymus moroderi

Known as Murcian cantueso or Alicante thyme, it is an endemic subshrub of the east of the Iberian Peninsula, specifically of the Valencian Community and the Region of Murcia. Grows up to 40 centimeters tallwith simple, linear to ovate leaves, grayish green in color. The flowers are purplish.

Thymus pulegioides

It is a woody herb native to Europe, except Iceland and Turkey, which reaches 30 centimeters in height. The leaves are ovate, somewhat hairy at the base, and its flowers are pink.

What are the care they require?

If you want to have a copy of Thymus, we recommend you take care of it as follows:

Location

Must be abroadfull sun.

Earth

• Flower pot: you can mix universal substrate (on sale here!) with 30% perlite (for sale here!).
• the gardenNot overly demanding, but will grow well in well-drained soil.

Irrigation

Moderate to low. Water your Thymus about 3 times a week in summer, and every 5-6 days the rest of the year, ensuring that the substrate or soil is well soaked.

Subscriber

It is highly advisable to pay from spring to early fall with homemade fertilizers, such as guano, compost or others.

Planting or transplanting time

In spring, when the risk of frost has passed.

Multiplication

The Thymus multiply by seeds in springfollowing this step by step:

1. First, put the seeds in a glass of water for 24 hours. The next day stay only with those that have sunk.
2. Fill a seedling tray (for sale here!) with substrate for seedlings (for sale here!).
3. Then water conscientiously.
4. Next, sow a maximum of two seeds in each socket, and cover them with a thin layer of substrate.
5. Finally, water a little over the top again to moisten the most superficial layer of the substrate, and place the seedbed outside, in semi-shade.

They will germinate in about two weeks.

Pruning

Cut off dry, diseased or weak stems whenever necessary with scissors previously disinfected with pharmacy alcohol.

Rusticity

It depends on the species, but in general they resist up to -7ºC.

What did you think of the Thymus?