Practical
Plants

Satureja thymbra

Thyme-Leaved Savory

a perennial woody member of the Satureja genus in the family Labiatae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Labiatae
Life cycle
perennial
Woodiness
woody
Height
0.4 m
Spread
0.4 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The leaves have a thyme-like flavour and are used as a seasoning for pulses, savoury breads, brine-cured olives, vegetables etc[9][3][4][7]. The leaves and young shoots are used as a tea substitute. It is said that this make one of the best-tasting of all herb teas[4].

Product or use
Condiment
Product or use
Tea

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The leaves are antibacterial, aromatic, digestive, expectorant and tonic[2][7]. They are used internally to treat minor digestive discomfort and bronchial congestion[7]. The leaves are harvested during the growing season and can be used fresh or dried[7].

Product or use
Antibacterial
Product or use
Aromatic
Product or use
Digestive
Product or use
Expectorant
Product or use
Tonic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A strong infusion of the herb is used in the autumn to clean wine barrels in preparation for the new vintage[4]. An essential oil is obtained from the plant, it contains 19% thymol[9] and is also rich in carvacrol[7]. It is used in the pharmaceutical industry[7]..

Product or use
Cleanser
Product or use
Essential

Environment

Range
S.E. Europe - Balkans, Crete, Greece.
Habitat
Sunny positions on dry rocky hills[10][2].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 7+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - surface sow in April in a greenhouse. Do not allow the compost to dry out. Germination can be slow and erratic[1] but usually takes place within a month[K]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle. It is usually possible to plant out into their permanent positions during the summer, but if the plants have not grown sufficiently, or if you live in an area of cold winters, it might be best to grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter and plant them out in late spring or early summer of the following year[K]. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 8cm taken at a node, July/August in a frame. Pot up in autumn and overwinter in a frame, planting out in late spring or early summer of the following year. A high percentage usually succeed[11]. Cuttings of young wood, preferably with a heel, April/May in a frame[1][8]. Plant out in the summer if the plants grow well, otherwise overwinter them in a cold frame and plant out in late spring or early summer of the following year[K]. Division in early spring as growth commences[11][5]. This works best if soil has been mounded up into the bottom 20cm of the plant early in the previous summer[11]. Pot up the divisions and grow them on in a cold frame until they are established. Plant them out in the summer.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a sunny position in a well-drained soil[5]. Plants are intolerant of soils that remain damp[5]. Prefers a neutral to alkaline soil[7]. This species is not very hardy outdoors in Britain, plants suffer damage at temperatures below freezing but they can be grown as annuals, flowering and setting seed in their first year[5]. Plants will be hardier in soils that are very well drained and also if the soil is a bit on the poor side[K]. A good bee plant[2]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[6].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Niebuhr. A. D. Herbs of Greece. Herb Society of America. 1970-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  3. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  4. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  6. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩

  7. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  8. Thompson. B. The Gardener's Assistant. Blackie and Son. 1878-00-00

    ↩

  9. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2

  10. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

    ↩

  11. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

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