By Anita Smith
July 2006

Thyme: (tīm)
Botanical Name: Thymus
Other Common Names: English/French Thyme, Lemon Thyme, Mother of Thyme
Uses: crafts, medicinal, culinary, and ornamental
Area of Origin: Central Europe

  Thyme is an easy to grow Mediterranean perennial. A member of the mint family, it has more than 300 species. It is a low - growing, sub-shrub with woody stems that reach about 6 to 10 inches in height. the leaves are small, oval, and gray - green in color. The flowers are small lilac colored clusters.
  It grows best in a well drained slightly sandy loam and enjoys the sun (at least 4 hours). Propagate with cuttings, divisions, or by direct seeding. Be sure to severely prune your plant in the spring to promote fresh growth. After a few years you may need to replace plants as they tend to become woody a disease prone.
  Thyme can be used as an antiseptic, deodorant, and an air purifier. It can be used in soaps and perfumes as well as in potpourri and herb pillows (dream pillows). Thymol, one of the oils present in Thyme is used in many commercial mouthwashes, toothpaste, and disinfectants. Thyme is also used in many recipes and complement a variety of foods.
Three of the more common thymes are Creeping Thyme (Mother of Thyme), English/French Thyme, and Lemon Thyme.
  The Creeping Thyme primarily used for garden decoration. It can be used in between flagstone, or in a rock garden. It can even be used to replace grass in a low traffic area of your lawn.
  The English/French and Lemon variety are commonly used in cooking. Unlike many fresh herbs, Thyme holds up well to long cooking times, so can be added at any point in your recipe. The dried leaves also retain their quality for a long period of time. To dry, bundle several sprigs together and hang upside down in a humid free area. When dry, strip leaves form the stems and store the leaves in an airtight container, for up to 6 months.
  The Food and Drug Administration includes thyme on its list of herbs generally regarded as safe, but large doses my cause intestinal problems. If you experience diarrhea of bloating, cut back on the amount you are using or discontinue use altogether. 

Resources:

The Whole Herb
Barbara Pleasant

Herbs Growing & Using the Plants of Romance
Fredericksburg Herb Farm

The Herb Farm Cookbook
Jerry Traunfeld

West Virginia University Extension Service