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Thymus capitatus
  • Headed Savory

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

Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • neutral,alkaline
    Neutral to Alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Loamy
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 7
    Zone 7
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Thymus capitatus has 0 edible uses listed
Thymus capitatus has 0 material uses listed
Thymus capitatus has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

The plant is sometimes used as a condiment[1].

An essential oil from the plant is used for flavouring baked goods, condiments, beverages, ice creams etc. It is called 'Spanish oregano oil'[1][2].

Leaves - raw in salads or added as a flavouring to cooked foods[3]. An aromatic tea is made from the leaves. 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[4].

Unknown part

Condiment
Tea

Leaves

Unknown use

Material uses

The essential oil, known as 'Spanish oregano oil', obtained from the leaves is also used in perfumery and soaps, as a mouth wash, medicinally etc[5][6][7][8][4][2].

Unknown part

Essential

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The leaves, and especially the essential oil contained in them, are strongly antiseptic, deodorant and disinfectant[4][2]. 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[2]. The essential oil should not be used in aromatherapy because it is highly irritant to the mucous membranes[2].

Unknown part

Antiseptic
Deodorant
Disinfectant

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

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[4]. 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[4]. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 8cm with a heel, July/August in a frame[4].

Layering.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Thymus capitatus. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Prefers a light, well-drained calcareous soil and a sunny position[4]. 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[2].

Plants are hardy to about -10°c[4]. This species used to be cultivated as a culinary herb in the herb garden but it has now fallen into disuse[3]. The flowers are rich in nectar and are very attractive to honey bees[7][9][4][2]. The growing plant is a beneficial companion for most plants[10]. The plant is powerfully pungent when handled[11].

This is a very difficult genus taxonomically, the species hybridize freely with each other and often intergrade into each other[4].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Thymus capitatus. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Thymus capitatus.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Thymus capitatus
Genus
Thymus
Family
Labiatae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3][4]
Medicinal uses
[4][2]
Material uses & Functions
[5][6][7][8][4][2]
Botanic
[12][4]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
7
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    evergreen
    Herbaceous or Woody
    woody
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    0.25 x 0.25 meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    Bees, Flies, Lepidoptera
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite











    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.2 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.12.22.32.42.52.62.72.82.9 Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (1995-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.13.2 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)
    4. ? 4.004.014.024.034.044.054.064.074.084.094.104.114.124.13 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.1 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.1 Schery. R. W. Plants for Man. ()
    7. ? 7.07.17.2 Polunin. O. and Huxley. A. Flowers of the Mediterranean. Hogarth Press ISBN 0-7012-0784-1 (1987-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.1 Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press ISBN 0192176218 (1969-00-00)
    9. ? Niebuhr. A. D. Herbs of Greece. Herb Society of America. (1970-00-00)
    10. ? Hatfield. A. W. How to Enjoy your Weeds. Frederick Muller Ltd ISBN 0-584-10141-4 (1977-00-00)
    11. ? Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. ISBN 0-7090-5440-8 (1994-00-00)
    12. ? ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press (1964-00-00)

    Cite error: <ref> tag with name "PFAFimport-45" defined in <references> is not used in prior text.


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    Facts about "Thymus capitatus"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyLabiatae +
    Belongs to genusThymus +
    Has common nameHeaded Savory +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partUnknown part + and Leaves +
    Has edible useSeasoning +, Unknown use + and Tea +
    Has fertility typeBee +, Flies + and Lepidoptera +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has hardiness zone7 +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useEssential +
    Has mature height0.25 +
    Has mature width0.25 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAntiseptic +, Deodorant + and Disinfectant +
    Has search namethymus capitatus + and x +
    Has shade toleranceNo shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceNeutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
    Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
    Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomy nameThymus capitatus +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is deciduous or evergreenEvergreen +
    Is herbaceous or woodyWoody +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +