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Thymus x citriodorus
  • Lemon Thyme

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

Niche
  • Soil surface
    Soil surface
    There are no details available for this niche.
Functions
  • Ground cover
    Ground cover
    There are no details available for this function.
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 x citriodorus has 0 edible uses listed
Thymus x citriodorus has 0 material uses listed
Thymus x citriodorus has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Leaves - raw in salads or added as a flavouring to cooked foods[1][2]. A delicious lemon flavour[K]. 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[3]. An aromatic tea is made from the leaves[4]. It has a pleasant lemon-like flavour and is very refreshing[2][5].

Leaves

Unknown use

Unknown part

Tea

Material uses

The essential oil obtained from the leaves and flowering stems is used in perfumery, as a mouth wash, medicinally etc[3].

The aromatic leaves are dried and used in pot-pourri and herbal pillows[5].

The plant makes an attractive ground cover for a sunny position[6]. They are best spaced about 30cm apart each way[7].

Unknown part

Essential
Pot-pourri

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The leaves, and especially the essential oil contained in them, are strongly antiseptic, deodorant and disinfectant[3][5]. 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[5].

The leaves contain an antioxidant and regular use of the raw leaves has been shown to increase average life expectancy by about 10%.

The essential oil obtained from this plant is thought to be less irritant than other thyme oils and so it is used in aromatherapy to treat asthma and other respiratory complaints, especially in children[5].

Unknown part

Antiseptic
Aromatherapy
Deodorant
Disinfectant

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Soil surface

Ecological Functions

Ground cover

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. This species is a hybrid and will not breed true from seed.

Division in spring or autumn[3]. 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[3]. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 8cm with a heel, July/August in a frame[3].

Layering.

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



Cultivation

Requires a light well-drained preferably calcareous soil in a sunny position[8][3]. Succeeds in dry soils. 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[5].

Plants are hardy to about -15°c[3]. This is a very difficult genus taxonomically, the species hybridize freely with each other and often intergrade into each other[3]. Often cultivated in the herb garden for its leaves, there are some named varieties.

The flowers are rich in nectar and are very attractive to honey bees[3]. A good companion for most plants[9].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Thymus x citriodorus. 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 x citriodorus.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Thymus x citriodorus
Genus
Thymus
Family
Labiatae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3][4][5]
Medicinal uses
[3][5]
Material uses & Functions
[3][5][6][7]
Botanic
[10][3]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Ground cover
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
  • Strong wind
Ecosystems
Native Climate Zones
None listed.
Adapted Climate Zones
None listed.
Native Geographical Range
None listed.
Native Environment
None listed.
Ecosystem Niche
Soil surface
Root Zone Tendancy
None listed.
Life
Deciduous or Evergreen
evergreen
Herbaceous or Woody
woody
Life Cycle
perennial
Growth Rate
?
Mature Size
0.1 x 0.3 meters
Fertility
?
Pollinators
Bees, Flies, Lepidoptera
Flower Colour
?
Flower Type
hermaphrodite











References

  1. ? 1.01.1 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (1976-00-00)
  2. ? 2.02.12.2 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
  3. ? 3.003.013.023.033.043.053.063.073.083.093.103.113.123.13 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
  4. ? 4.04.1 Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books ISBN 0-553-23827-2 (1983-00-00)
  5. ? 5.05.15.25.35.45.55.65.75.8 Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (1995-00-00)
  6. ? 6.06.1 Allardice.P. A - Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-304-34324-2 (1993-00-00)
  7. ? 7.07.1 Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons ISBN 0-460-12609-1 (1990-00-00)
  8. ? F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
  9. ? Hatfield. A. W. How to Enjoy your Weeds. Frederick Muller Ltd ISBN 0-584-10141-4 (1977-00-00)
  10. ? Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named PFAFimport-11


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Facts about "Thymus x citriodorus"RDF feed
Article is incompleteYes +
Article requires citationsNo +
Article requires cleanupYes +
Belongs to familyLabiatae +
Belongs to genusThymus +
Functions asGround cover +
Has binomial nameThymus x citriodorus +
Has common nameLemon Thyme +
Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
Has edible partLeaves + and Unknown part +
Has edible useUnknown use + and Tea +
Has environmental toleranceHigh wind +
Has fertility typeBees +, Flies + and Lepidoptera +
Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
Has hardiness zone7 +
Has lifecycle typePerennial +
Has material partUnknown part +
Has material useEssential + and Pot-pourri +
Has mature height0.1 +
Has mature width0.3 +
Has medicinal partUnknown part +
Has medicinal useAntiseptic +, Aromatherapy +, Deodorant + and Disinfectant +
Has search namethymus x citriodorus + and lemon thyme +
Has shade toleranceNo shade +
Has soil ph preferenceNeutral + and Alkaline +
Has soil texture preferenceSandy + and Loamy +
Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
Has sun preferenceFull sun +
Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
Has taxonomy nameThymus x citriodorus +
Has water requirementsmoderate +
Inhabits ecosystem nicheSoil surface +
Is deciduous or evergreenEvergreen +
Is herbaceous or woodyWoody +
Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
PFAF cultivation notes migratedNo +
PFAF edible use notes migratedNo +
PFAF material use notes migratedNo +
PFAF medicinal use notes migratedNo +
PFAF propagation notes migratedNo +
PFAF toxicity notes migratedYes +
Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
Tolerates windYes +
Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +
Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.Thymus x citriodorus +, Thymus x citriodorus +, Thymus x citriodorus +, Thymus x citriodorus +, Thymus x citriodorus +, Thymus x citriodorus +, Thymus x citriodorus + and Thymus x citriodorus +