Other Names:  White Thyme

Description:

Mainly used in the cultivation of its essential oil, this variety produces aromatic and edible leaves, great for cooking fresh or dried for seasonings; thin, green leaves are accompanied by white flowers; looks great in patio containers or herb gardens

Edible Qualities

Spanish Thyme is a perennial herb that is commonly grown for its edible qualities, although it does have ornamental merits as well. The tiny fragrant pointy dark green leaves can be harvested at any time in the season. The leaves have a savory taste and a pleasant fragrance.

The leaves are most often used in the following ways:

• Eating When Cooked/Prepared
• Cooking
• Baking
• Drying
• Seasoning

Features & Attributes

Spanish Thyme is smothered in stunning spikes of white flowers rising above the foliage from mid to late summer. Its attractive tiny fragrant pointy leaves remain dark green in color throughout the year.

This is a dense herbaceous evergreen perennial herb with an upright spreading habit of growth. It brings an extremely fine and delicate texture to the garden composition and should be used to full effect. This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Aside from its primary use as an edible, Spanish Thyme is sutiable for the following landscape applications;

• Border Edging
• General Garden Use
• Groundcover
• Herb Gardens

Planting & Growing

Spanish Thyme will grow to be about 12 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 18 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 18 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.

This plant is quite ornamental as well as edible, and is as much at home in a landscape or flower garden as it is in a designated herb garden. It should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers to grow in average to dry locations, and dislikes excessive moisture. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. This plant should not require much in the way of fertilizing once established, although it may appreciate a shot of general-purpose fertilizer from time to time early in the growing season. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This species is not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division.