Thymus serpyllum
Wild Thyme
a perennial woody evergreen member of the Thymus genus in the family Labiatae.
Taxonomy and growth
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Leaves - raw in salads or added as a flavouring to cooked foods[9][2][20][22]. Thyme retains its flavour well in long slow cooking. 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[11]. An aromatic tea is made from the leaves[13].
- Plant part
- Leaves
- 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.
Wild thyme is a commonly used domestic remedy, being employed especially for its antiseptic properties and its beneficial effect on the digestive system. The whole plant is anthelmintic, strongly antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative, deodorant, diaphoretic, disinfectant, expectorant, sedative and tonic[19][4][11][15][18]. It is taken internally in the treatment of bronchitis, catarrh, laryngitis, flatulent indigestion, painful menstruation, colic and hangovers[15]. It is said to be effective in treating alcoholism[15]. It should not be prescribed for pregnant women[15]. Externally, it is applied to minor injuries, mastitis, mouth, throat and gum infections etc[15]. 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[15]. The seeds are used as a vermifuge[17]. Wild thyme contains all the medicinal properties of the more commonly used garden thyme (T. vulgaris), though in a lesser degree[19]. An essential oil distilled from the leaves is used in the treatment of stress-related conditions, though it can cause allergic reactions[15].
- Product or use
- Anthelmintic
- Product or use
- Antiseptic
- Product or use
- Antispasmodic
- Product or use
- Carminative
- Product or use
- Deodorant
- Product or use
- Diaphoretic
- Product or use
- Disinfectant
- Product or use
- Expectorant
- Product or use
- Sedative
- Product or use
- Tonic
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
An essential oil from the leaves and flowering tops is used in perfumery, soaps, medicinally etc. It has fungicidal and disinfectant properties[19][23]. About 150 grams of oil are obtained from 100 kilos of plant material[19]. The dried flowers are used to repel moths from clothing[19]. The growing plant is said to repel cabbage root fly[6][10]. A good ground cover for a sunny position[8]. It needs weeding for the first year or so[8]. Plants are best spaced about 45cm apart each way[12]. Plants are only satisfactory when young or growing luxuriantly - they are apt to become bare in patches otherwise[12].
- Product or use
- Disinfectant
- Product or use
- Essential
- Product or use
- Fungicide
- Product or use
- Repellent
Ecology and functions
- Ecosystem niche
- Soil surface
Environment
- Range
- Europe, including Britain, from Sweden south and east to France, Hungary and Roumania.
- 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
- high wind
- Wind
- Yes
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
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[11]. 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[11]. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 8cm with a heel, July/August in a frame[11]. 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][11]. Succeeds in dry soils[19]. Grows well between stepping stones on paths, tolerating light treading[7][11]. 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[15]. Plants are hardy to about -15°c[11]. This is a very difficult genus taxonomically, the species hybridize freely with each other and often intergrade into each other[11]. This species is harvested commercially for its essential oil, known as 'wild thyme'[14]. Closely related to T. praecox arcticus, but this species is not so common in Britain[2]. It is a very polymorphic plant. A good companion for most other plants[21], it makes a very good carpeting plant for the rockery or between paving stones[1] and can also be grown in a short lawn[21]. The flowers are rich in nectar and are very attractive to honey bees[11], the plant also attracts butterflies[19][23][16].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3
Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00
Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins 1979-00-00
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Royal Horticultural Society. Ground Cover Plants. Cassells. 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-304-31089-1
Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978-00-00 ISBN 0-88266-064-0
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1
Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2
Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
Baines. C. Making a Wildlife Garden.
Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00
Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
Hatfield. A. W. How to Enjoy your Weeds. Frederick Muller Ltd 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-584-10141-4
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202
Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5