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Pink Flowering Coconut Thyme |
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Thymes are a blessing and a curse. A blessing because there are so many different kinds and a curse because there are so many different kinds. Culinary Thymes are pretty easy. There aren't too many and their names are fairly descriptive, like Lemon Thyme. It is the Ground Cover Thymes that tend to confuse. Most folks want to use the Ground Cover Thymes to cover the ground. Not much of a surprise there. But, different folks have different amounts of ground to cover. It is important to know the difference between a ground cover thyme that is appropriate for a two inch space and one that is appropriate for a two foot space. Large Thymes stuffed into a small space will disappoint with time. They will cover up stepping stones, spreading their stems onto paving that will not support growth, leaving behind a stub where the ground cover was suppose to be. How they grow Just like all plants, Thyme spreads by growing from one set of leaves to the next. In between the leaves is a stem segment. This little fact is what determines how fast a thyme will grow and ultimately how wide the spread is. It takes more energy and time to produce a set of leaves than to project a stem segment. |
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Therefore, a plant like this Creeping Pink Thyme with almost an inch of stem between its sets of leaves grows much more quickly than say a Pink Chintz Thyme or a Woolly Thyme whose leaves are very close together. This increased stem segment also provides a rooting zone for the thyme to creep along on. As long as the ground is moist where that stem segment hits it, the plant will root and continue to creep. Unfortunately, Thyme is very shallow rooted and dies easily if left drying in the hot summer sun. This is especially true when first transplanted. It should remain moist but not soggy for best growth. |
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When plants first go into the ground, the ground around them actually wicks water away from the plant. So, it is necessary to keep the root balls moist until the roots become symbiotic with the soil around them. Mulching when first planted helps to retain moisture and get the plants off to a successful start. Normally, Thymes don't require fertilizer or pruning, especially if your are practicing good organic gardening principles, like the mulching mentioned above. Thymes can take partial shade or full sun and most are hardy to about Zone 5. The Thymus praecox arcticus varieties are reported by Jo Ann Gardner in her book Herbs in Bloom to be hardy in Zone 4. Most Ground Cover Thymes, but not all, bloom for about three to four weeks between mid spring and mid summer. A really nice combination is Caraway Thyme, which blooms early, and Coconut Thyme, which blooms when the Caraway Thyme is finished. Which ones to choose? Obviously if they bloom for only a short period of time it is unwise to get too caught up in the flowering aspect of Thyme. Most thyme flowers range in color from white to dark pink. Some like Woolly Thyme, do not bloom at all and make a good choice if bees are to be avoided. It is better to consider the leaves and the colors they provide, and, of course, how big the thyme gets. Elfin Thyme is the smallest and has a greenish gray leaf. It is the logical choice for those two inch spots. It also makes sense to purchase a plug tray for those small spaces. A plug tray contains 120 small plants whose root balls are about an inch and a quarter by an inch and a quarter. Just pop them in and keep them moist. Pink Chintz Thyme and Mint Thyme are close on the heels of Elfin with similar color and woolly texture but spreading out further. Woolly Thyme and White Moss Thyme (sometimes called Creeping White Thyme) are also slower growing and do well between stones where space is cramped. Woolly Thyme is the most silver leaved of all the Thymes, while White Moss is a lovely chartreuse. Larger Thymes that still grow quite flat are Creeping Pink, Caraway Thyme, Lemon Frost Thyme, Reiter's Thyme and Coconut Thyme. However, these will mound if there is a plant or wall nearby to lean against. Caraway Thyme has the added interest of red stems. In fact, Caraway Thyme is the only culinary Ground Cover Thyme in the bunch. Its Latin name, herba-barona, alludes to its medieval use to freshen other wise questionable barons of beef. Lavender Thyme, which smells great and makes a great container plant, is taller reaching between 3 and six inches. Doone Valley Thyme is more of a mounding thyme and can reach 10 inches. It is variegated green and gold in the spring and fall and green in summer. It has a refreshing Lemon Scent, but is not culinary. |
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PLUG TRAYS
These small cells of well rooted plants are ideal for planting between stepping stones. Each cell is about an inch long and 3/4 of an inch wide. There are 128 of all the same plant. |
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