Practical
Plants

Thymbra spicata

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Thymbra genus in the family Labiatae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Labiatae
Genus
Thymbra
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Height
0.5 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

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

The plant is occasionally used as a condiment[2]. The flavour of its essential oils is similar to those of Origanum syriacum, Thymus capitatus and Satureia thymbra[2].

Product or use
Condiment

Material uses

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

The plant is used as an incense[1].

Product or use
Incense

Environment

Range
S. Europe - Greece to W. Asia.
Habitat
Dry sunny hillsides[4]. High dry meadows in Greece[1].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

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

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame. Division in spring. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are growing away well. Plant them out in the summer or the following spring.

Cultivation

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

Succeeds in a sunny position in most well-drained soils[3]. This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[3]. A good bee plant[1].

References

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

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