Thyme has been valued throughout the centuries for its culinary and medicinal qualities. In ancient Egypt it was a key ingredient in the embalming process. The ancient Greeks used it to scent their bath water and as incense. It was spread throughout Europe by the Romans who were well aware of its aromatic uses in cooking. Best cultivated in a hot sunny location in well drained soil, thyme does thrive in our gardens despite the amount of rainfall in the UK. Here are a few varieties you may not have heard of that you might like to try and grow yourself.
The flavour and scent of all thyme varieties is enhanced if they are planted in soil that is not too rich. Hardier types are perfect for creating thyme lawns, whereas prostrate varieties are just right for creating pockets of colour between paving stones or in paths. The only other important care tip with thyme is to cut it back immediately after flowering to encourage new, dense growth.
Thyme 'Creeping Red' is a low growing variety and one of the very best for summer colour, producing bright crimson flowers on small bronze-green leaves. 'Caraway' is also a low growing type with rich rose-purple flowers and caraway scented leaves that are a great accompaniment to roast meat dishes. Thyme 'Fragrant' is also known as orange scented thyme as its leaves have a delicious scent of balsam and oranges. Although mainly a culinary variety, its dried sprigs can also be added to pot-pourri. Thyme 'Lemon Curd' is as delicious as its name suggests, with strong lemon scented foliage and lilac-pink flowers.
Thyme 'Camphor' is a tender variety but well worth growing for its strong camphor scent. 'Pink Chintz' is perhaps one of the most attractive of thymes with its pearly foliage and pretty pale pink flowers. 'Tabor' is excellent ground cover thyme with large rounded leaves and long spikes of mauve flowers. Thyme 'Wild Creeping' is fast growing and perfect for sunny paths or a rockery. Its upright pink flowers are a magnet for bees and it is also used to flavour meat. 'Pink Ripple' is a semi-prostrate thyme with golden leaves and bold pink flowers. Thyme 'Redstart' is a real stunner. Its dark foliage contrasts sharply with an abundance of vibrant red-pink flowers. If you are looking for thymes suitable for an alpine trough or other garden planters, then thyme 'Minor' is perfect. It is a low growing, tiny leaved variety which forms a small dense mound with pink flowers.
Jo Poultney is one of two people behind Garden Planters. I have an RHS general certificate in horticulture. Garden Planters source unusual outdoor and indoor planters, and other garden related gifts - whatever your taste, be it traditional, modern or just a bit quirky, we will have something for you. I believe garden planters are an integral part of any garden - they enhance the overall design and say a little something about the person to whom the garden belongs. If you would like to know more about Garden Planters, visit our website at http://www.gardenplantersshop.co.uk
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