Thyme, Flowering
(also referred to as...)
Common Thyme, English Thyme, Garden Thyme,
Lemon Thyme, Mother of Thyme, Wild Thyme
Latin Name: Thymus vulgaris, Thymus x. Citriodorus
Family: Labiatae
Description
"Thymus" is the original Greek name used by Theophrastus both for thyme and savory. Fossil remains from more than 5 million years ago show imprints of recognizable, present day, varieties of thyme. Throughout history, thyme has come to symbolize death as the souls of the dead were believed to rest in the flowers and the smell of thyme has apparently been detected at several haunted sites. It is also associated with various rituals once carried out by young women to reveal their true love and has been widely used as a fumigant and incense.
Some 350 species of small evergreen aromatic perennials belong to this Eurasian genus. Many thymes make wonderful garden plants and are ideal for rock gardens, walls, and containers. Though the flowers are small, they produce an abundance of nectar and many species are important as bee plants.
Thymes need plenty of sunlight and good drainage, low humidity and a rocky, chalky soil rich in trace elements. They are shallow rooted and susceptible to heaving by alternating freezing and thawing. This herb should also be covered with a mulch of straw or pine needles in the fall.
Thyme has a pungent, tangy flavour. Use with poultry, red meat, fish, tomatoes, cabbage, green vegetables, clam chowder, or vegetable soup. For aesthetic flare, line hors d'oeuvre trays with whole thyme sprigs. Crushed sprigs can also be placed in the cavity of a chicken, along with lemon slices, before roasting.
