Content
- 1 What does creeping thyme look like?
- 2 Where does creeping thyme grow and when does it bloom?
- 3 Types and varieties of creeping thyme
- 4 Medicinal and beneficial properties of creeping thyme
- 5 Medicinal uses of creeping thyme
- 6 Harm and contraindications
- 7 When to plant creeping thyme
- 8 Planting creeping thyme with seeds
- 9 Caring for creeping thyme
- 10 How to propagate creeping thyme
- 11 Photo of creeping thyme in landscape design
- 12 Conclusion
Thyme, or creeping thyme (Thymus serpillum), is a perennial subshrub plant that forms low turf. This spicy-aromatic crop belongs to the Lamiaceae family. The popular names for thyme are Bogorodskaya grass, flypalm, boron pepper. The perennial is widely used in landscape design, as it remains decorative throughout the warm period. The plant is also valued for its medicinal properties. Growing thyme does not pose any particular difficulties if you take into account the basic requirements of the crop.
Creeping thyme is considered one of the best honey plants
What does creeping thyme look like?
Thyme is a lodging subshrub, the height of which does not exceed 15-20 cm, and the growth diameter is 60 cm. Its creeping type shoots are densely intertwined and quickly take root when in contact with the soil.Therefore, planting thyme forms a dense carpet on the soil surface. The growing shoots of creeping thyme are thin, flexible, and green in color. As they mature, they become woody at the base.
The leaves of the perennial are small, oval-oblong, hard, dark or light green in color with short petioles. The plates are located oppositely on the shoots.
The flowers are small, two-lipped, pink-violet. They are collected in capitate inflorescences. The fruits of thyme are in the form of a small elliptical nut with a diameter of 0.6 cm. They ripen in early July.
Thyme is a close relative of basil, lavender, oregano, rosemary, mint, and lemon balm.
Where does creeping thyme grow and when does it bloom?
Creeping thyme can be found in temperate climates. The perennial subshrub grows mainly in steppe zones. In the forest it is found only in open sunny areas. Can grow on rocks and rocky slopes. Thyme begins to bloom in the first ten days of June and continues until mid-September.
Creeping thyme is distributed from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean and from the British Isles to Eastern Siberia.
Types and varieties of creeping thyme
Selection work has made it possible, based on the wild-growing form of thyme, to obtain new ornamental plant species with different flower colors. This increased the popularity of creeping thyme as an element of landscape design.
Popular varieties:
- Albus. An early variety that blooms at the end of May. The height of the plant does not exceed 8 cm. A characteristic difference is the spherical apical inflorescences of a white hue.The leaves are dark green with a bluish bloom and a delicate aroma.
The Albus variety is characterized by lush flowering
- Atropurpurea. The height of the plant reaches 20 cm. The diameter of the growth is 65-70 cm. The flowers of this variety are dark purple and the leaves are green. Begins to form buds in early June.
The Atropurpurea variety can be planted in sunny and slightly shaded areas
- Bressingham Pink. The height of the plant reaches 15 cm, and the growth diameter is 60 cm. The spherical inflorescences are pink. The leaves are small and green in color. Blooms in the first half of June.
Brezingam Pink variety is unpretentious to growing conditions
- Variegatus. A characteristic feature of this variety is the wide light border on the leaves. The height of the plant reaches 15 cm, and the growth diameter is about 65 cm. The shade of the petals is lilac.
Variegatus variety is more demanding of care
Medicinal and beneficial properties of creeping thyme
The aerial part of thyme, which is characterized by a rich chemical composition, is used for medicinal purposes. The collection of medicinal raw materials must be carried out in July, since during this period the concentration of useful components is maximum.
Thyme leaves and shoots contain:
- essential oil;
- saponins;
- flavonoids;
- resins:
- mineral salts;
- tannins;
- bitterness;
- acids (quinic, oleanolic, caffeic, ursolic, chlorogenic, thymunic).
Creeping thyme has long been used in Rus' for medicinal purposes. It was believed that this divine herb was capable of restoring not only health, but also life to a person.
Thyme, crushed into powder, was given to sniff when fainting.
Thyme has a number of beneficial properties, including;
- expectorant;
- antimicrobial;
- warming;
- painkiller;
- antipyretic;
- diuretic;
- calming.
It has also been established that creeping thyme normalizes the function of the genital organs.
Medicinal uses of creeping thyme
Thyme is also widely used in traditional medicine. A water infusion is prescribed for rinsing the mouth for bronchial asthma, tracheitis, sinusitis, toothache, sore throat, bronchopneumonia.
Preparations with creeping thyme are used to treat neuroses, gastrointestinal diseases, insomnia, and prostate adenoma. The medicine Pertussin, containing thyme extract, is recommended for tuberculosis, whooping cough, and bronchitis.
Harm and contraindications
Despite the benefits of creeping thyme, in some cases it can cause harm to health. It should not be used to treat children under two years of age. Long-term use of drugs based on it can lead to the development of Graves' disease, caused by hyperfunction of the thyroid gland.
Contraindications:
- pregnancy;
- renal, heart failure;
- period of exacerbation of the ulcer.
When to plant creeping thyme
To grow creeping thyme in your garden plot, you need to plant it correctly. This should be done in the spring, when the soil warms up to a temperature of at least +13 °C. Therefore, the optimal time is the second half of May.
Planting creeping thyme with seeds
To plant thyme, it is recommended to choose an open, well-lit place, protected from cold gusts of wind. Maximum decorativeness can be achieved by growing creeping thyme on sandy loam soil with a neutral or low acidity level.
The area needs to be dug up in the fall and humus added at the rate of 10 kg per 1 sq. m. m, and also add superphosphate (30 g) and potassium sulfide (25 g) to the same area size. And with the arrival of spring warmth, loosen the soil and carefully level the surface.
Landing algorithm:
- Make furrows 1 cm deep at a distance of 25 cm.
- Moisten the soil well.
- Spread the seeds evenly into the furrows.
- Sprinkle with a thin layer of river sand.
After planting, the bed should be covered with agrofibre. When sprouts appear, they need to be thinned out, leaving only the strongest. The cover can be removed when the seedlings are well established.
Creeping thyme seeds germinate 2-3 weeks after planting
Caring for creeping thyme
Thyme belongs to the category of unpretentious crops. But at the same time, it does not tolerate stagnant moisture in the soil. Therefore, it is necessary to water creeping thyme only during a long absence of rain. To do this, use settled water at a temperature of +20 °C. Young shoots need to be moistened more than twice a week, and adult plants – once every seven days.
Throughout the growing season, weeding should be carried out, removing growing weeds. It is also necessary to loosen the soil at the base of the plants to maintain air access to the roots. During hot periods, you need to lay mulch between creeping thyme seedlings. For this you can use peat or humus.
In the first year after planting, there is no need to feed creeping thyme. It is necessary to start fertilizing from the second season. To do this, you should use organic matter in early spring, and in early summer and after flowering, use phosphorus-potassium mineral mixtures.
Sanitary pruning is a prerequisite for proper care of creeping thyme. It needs to be done twice per season. It is important to clean perennials for the first time in the spring, removing all broken, dry and damaged shoots. This stimulates the growth of young shoots.
The second time pruning should be done after flowering. During this period, it is necessary to shorten the shoots of creeping thyme by 2/3 of their length. This helps make the shrub lush and flowering profusely.
How to propagate creeping thyme
To obtain new thyme seedlings of the variety you like, experienced gardeners recommend dividing the bush or using cuttings.
In the first case, in early spring you need to dig up the perennial and divide it into parts. Each of them should have well-developed root processes. After the procedure, the divisions must be immediately planted on the prepared area, watered abundantly and covered with agrofibre to speed up adaptation.
In the second case, it is necessary to cut creeping thyme in early summer before flowering. To do this, you should use apical shoots 8-10 cm long. The cuttings should be planted in a moistened soil mixture. When planting, the lower part of the shoot, 2 cm long, should be cleared of leaves and then powdered with any root-forming agent.After the procedure, cover the seedlings with a transparent bag to create favorable conditions for rooting. Periodically, the plantings need to be ventilated and moistened with a spray bottle.
Creeping thyme cuttings take root in 20-25 days
Photo of creeping thyme in landscape design
Landscape designers were able to appreciate the high decorative qualities of creeping thyme. Its low-growing turf helps create bright accents and successfully disguise unsightly areas. And the increased viability of the plant allows it to be grown even in places where other crops usually die.
You can clearly see how elegant creeping thyme looks in a flowerbed and not only in the photo.
Creeping thyme is suitable for edging paths
In group plantings, creeping thyme is best planted in the foreground
Perennial looks ideal on rocky hills
Perennial can be a successful design for the borders of paths
The semi-shrub can be used to strengthen slopes
Conclusion
Creeping thyme is a low-growing perennial that is widely used in medicine and cooking, as it has healing properties and a pleasant aroma. But also, growing thyme in a personal plot makes it possible to obtain a highly decorative plant that can easily fit into any garden design. At the same time, the perennial does not require complex care, and is also able to grow and fully bloom in depleted soil.
