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.
