Practical
Plants

Thymus praecox

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

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Labiatae
Genus
Thymus
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Height
0.05 m
Spread
0.3 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

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

The leaves are used as a food flavouring[2][6]. If the leaves are to be dried, the plants should be harvested in early and late summer just before the flowers open and the leaves should be dried quickly[5].

Product or use
Condiment

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, and especially the essential oil contained in them, are strongly antiseptic, deodorant and disinfectant[5][6]. The plant can be used fresh at any time of the year, or it can be harvested as it comes into flower and either be distilled for the oil or dried for later use[6].

Product or use
Antiseptic
Product or use
Deodorant
Product or use
Disinfectant

Material uses

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

Can be used as a ground cover plant in a sunny position[4]. The essential oil obtained from the leaves is used in perfumery, as a mouth wash, medicinally etc[5].

Product or use
Essential

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Soil surface

Ground cover

Environment

Range
S. W. and C. Europe.
Habitat
Stony and rocky mountain slopes, 1000 - 3600 metres in Turkey[7].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
drought
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

Propagation

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

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. Seed can also be sown in autumn in a greenhouse. Surface sow or barely cover the seed. Germination can be erratic. 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. Division in spring or autumn[5]. 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. Cuttings of young shoots, 5 - 8cm with a heel, May/June in a frame[5]. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 8cm with a heel, July/August in a frame[5]. Layering.

Cultivation

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

Requires a light well-drained preferably calcareous soil in a sunny position[1][5]. Succeeds in dry soils. Grows well between stepping stones on paths, tolerating light treading[3][5]. Succeeds on walls. Thymes dislike wet conditions, especially in the winter. A layer of gravel on the soil around them will help protect the foliage from wet soils[6]. Plants are hardy to about -15°c[6]. The flowers are rich in nectar and are very attractive to honey bees[5]. This is a very difficult genus taxonomically, the species hybridize freely with each other and often intergrade into each other[1]. There are some named varieties selected for culinary and ornamental purposes[3][5].

References

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

  4. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  7. Davis. P. H. Flora of Turkey. Edinburgh University Press 1965-00-00

    ↩

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