What are some substitutes for thyme?
Top 15 Best Substitute for Fresh Thyme Leaves
- Marjoram (Thyme Substitute): Marjoram belongs to the Lamiaceae family. The taste of Marjoram is similar to the Thyme. ...
- Rosemary (Thyme Substitute): Rosemary mostly grows in the United States as well as Europe. This is the most popular herb around the world. ...
- Savory (Thyme Substitute): Savory is also an herb. ...
What type of soil does thyme prefer?
You should go by the following:
- The lighting conditions. Does the herb like a shady, semi-shady or sunny spot?
- The soil conditions. Possible compositions are sandy, permeable, compact etc.
- Nutrient requirements. Does the plant belong to the weak, strong, or moderate feeder variety?
- Water consumption. How often should you water the plant?
What is the difference between lemon thyme and thyme?
While there are a plethora of thyme varieties, here is a list of some of the most common:
- Common thyme ( T. vulgaris) – Common thyme has a prostrate form with yellow and variegated foliage available; used in cooking.
- Lemon thyme ( T. x. ...
- Woolly thyme ( T. pseudolanuginosus) – Woolly thyme has a prostrate form with pubescent stems and leaves appear gray in color; good for rock gardens.
- Creeping thyme ( T. ...
- Wild thyme ( T. ...
- Elfin thyme ( T. ...
What are the household uses of thyme?
Thyme Herbal Remedies
- Thyme Herbal Remedies. Thyme is strongly antimicrobial and has traditionally been used for many types of bacterial infections.
- Thyme Uses. Thyme is a delicious culinary herb. ...
- Special Consideration for Thyme Herbal Remedies. Thyme herb is generally regarded as safe, especially when used in small amounts. ...
- The Thyme Plant. ...
How many variety of thyme are there?
There are over 300 thyme varieties in the mint family of Lamiaceae, of which thyme is a member. All have been prized for centuries for their fragrance, flavor, and ornamental habit. With this dizzying array of thyme varieties, there is a possible specimen for nearly every climate and landscape.
What is the most popular thyme?
lemon thymeEnglish thyme has dark green, oval leaves, and French thyme has narrow gray leaves. One of the most popular culinary thymes, lemon thyme (Thymus serpyllum) is known for its enticing lemon scent and taste. Sometimes listed in catalogs as Thymus x citriodorus, it is a hardy perennial that grows 4 to 12 inches tall.
What type of thyme is best for cooking?
Dozens of varieties are available, but those interested in the best culinary thymes have only a handful of choices. Those best for flavor, as well as ease of use, are the low-growing, shrubby ones known as English, French, lemon, or winter thyme.
Can you eat all types of thyme?
All thymes (and there are over 350 species in the genus Thymus) are edible and this includes varieties usually thought of as ornamental or medicinal.
What's the difference between German thyme and English thyme?
French thyme is also called summer thyme and it offers a flavor that is slightly subtler than that of English thyme. German thyme has smaller, slightly rounded leaves than the other varieties, but the foliage is packed with lots of flavor. German thyme is also called winter thyme because it is very cold hardy thymes.
What is the difference between English thyme and regular thyme?
The most popular thyme is English thyme (Thymus vulgaris). English thyme is not native to England—the Romans introduced the herb—but the Brits took it on as their own. It has the strong, distinctive flavor that we most associate with the herb today. Another good culinary option is French thyme (Thymus vulgaris).
Is red thyme the same as thyme?
There are many different varieties of Thyme oil available. Red Thyme is the crude distillate of the distillation process, and as the name suggests, is red in colour. It is more aggressive in its chemical make up than other variants and it is high in toxic phenols.
What is the easiest thyme to grow?
Outdoors, German thyme is perennial in zones 5 to 9, lemon thyme in zones 7 to 9. Easy to grow, thyme needs little care except for a regular light pruning after the first year. Do this after the last spring frost, so that the plants do not get woody and brittle.
Are thyme stems poisonous?
When you have an herb such as thyme, it works great to put whole sprigs in your recipe. When you are cooking the dish some of the leaves may come off bu the stem stays intact and you can simply remove the stems when you are done. Alternatively, you can pluck the leaves and add them to your dish.
What is the difference between thyme and wild thyme?
---Medicinal Action and Uses---In medicine, Wild Thyme or Serpolet has the same properties as Common Thyme, but to an inferior degree. It is aromatic, antiseptic, stimulant, antispasmodic, diuretic and emmenagogue.
Can you eat purple thyme?
To eat them, use the flowers as a garnish while they're still attached to the stem. You can also break them up and sprinkle them over a dish. Thyme flowers add a lemony flavor to dishes, and some culinary applications recommend using them to make a flavored butter.
14 Varieties of Thyme
Thyme is one of the most popular herbs in culinary circles. It’s easy to grow nature also makes it a favorite in the ornamental garden.
Culinary Thyme Varieties
These thyme varieties are grown for culinary use, though some are also used as ornamentals since they have large clusters of white, pink, or purple flowers.
Common Questions About Thyme
According to the Perdue Aromatic and Plants index, all species of Thymus vulgaris L. and Thymus serpyllum are classified as safe to use as culinary herbs or in essential oils. All the varieties we’ve listed here can be used to add flavor to your favorite recipes, although some are stronger and more aromatic than others.
Summary
Thyme’s many varieties offer the gardener a wide range of fragrances, flavors, looks, and growth habits.
What is the common thyme used for cooking?
22) English Thyme. English thyme is also called the garden thyme is the common thyme used for cooking. It is readily available, and further is the base for many various types of thyme.
How tall does thyme grow?
A thyme shrub, which grows up to a height of around 6 inches and has leaves like stiff silver needles. It has a pungent taste and aroma and is a perfect culinary herb.
What does lemon thyme taste like?
A perfect herb with beautiful yellowish-green foliage and subtle hints of lemon to its aroma. The taste of lemon thyme, though, is much like common thyme but with a lemony twist to it.
What is the name of the herb that has a bright green and bright green leaves?
6) Lime Thyme. It has beautiful lime green, bright leaves. The aroma is the reason behind the name, which is much like lime, citrus, and zingy. It is an ornamental herb and is used much less for its culinary purposes.
Is thyme good for ground cover?
It is a thyme plant that is perfect for ground coverage . It’s lilac flowers make it a sight to enjoy while even without the flowers, its minty aroma and green foliage are beautiful as well.
Is thyme a good herb?
Thyme is not just an ornamental or a herb that accentuates the taste of your favorite de licacies but, it is a great medicinal herb too. It is used in curing indigestion and arthritis, bronchitis and is also an excellent diuretic. Thus, accommodate one in your garden and enjoy its benefits on your mind, body, and soul.
Is thyme a medicinal herb?
It is not just a culinary herb but is equally important in the medicinal field too. Various types of thyme are used for multiple culinary uses, mostly to garnish and add their unique aroma and flavor to the dish. Thyme is known to grow in well-drained soils, and it often is seen flourishing in hot and warm climates.
What are the three major types of thyme?
There are literally hundreds of varieties grouped into three major types: clumping, low creeping, and tall upright . Thyme is highly aromatic, with each type having a slightly different scent and bearing different shapes and colors of flowers and leaves. Advertisement.
How to identify thyme?
Check the stems and branches. English Thyme grows in large circular mounds with tiny lavender-colored flowers, making it one of the easiest to identify. The deep-green leaves are flat and do not curl. A fragrant herb used in cooking, it is excellent for flavoring stews and meat dishes. Put it in a pot and keep it in a handy spot on your windowsill. Turkish Thyme has small green leaves wrapped closely around the stem, which give the plant a compact, bushy form. An excellent container plant, Turkish Thyme grows upright with small, pink flowers that bloom in the spring.
What is the scent of thyme?
Thymes are distinguished by their various fragrant aromas. Green Lemon Thyme has a sweet lemony fragrance that makes it a popular choice for cooking fish and chicken dishes. Notice that creeping thymes do not spread via stolons the way mints do. These thymes have shallow roots that attach to the surface of the soil.
How tall does thyme grow?
The low-creeping types of thyme grow 4 to 6 inches high. They are often used as border plants or along stone walls. Common Thyme (Thymus vulgaris), a French variety, makes an excellent plant in rock gardens and is useful as a small hedge. It grows upright from 12 to 16 inches high and has medium-sized leaves that curl under.
What is Turkish thyme used for?
A fragrant herb used in cooking, it is excellent for flavoring stews and meat dishes. Put it in a pot and keep it in a handy spot on your windowsill. Turkish Thyme has small green leaves wrapped closely around the stem, which give the plant a compact, bushy form.
What is a thyme ruler?
Things You'll Need. Thyme. Ruler. Thyme is a hardy perennial that comes in many varieties. Thyme is related to the mint family of herbs. It is a favorite among herb gardeners for its fragrance, flavor and ornamental value. There are literally hundreds of varieties grouped into three major types: clumping, low creeping, and tall upright.
Is crimson thyme good for rock gardens?
Creeping varieties of thyme do not offer much in the way of fragrance or flavor, which limits their usefulness in the kitchen. They are, however, superbly suited for rock gardens and paving walkways. With its stunning reddish purple flowers, Crimson Thyme is the ideal plant for spilling over rocks.
What is the best thyme for cooking?
Common Thyme: yellow and variegated foliage. Perfect for cooking. Lemon Thyme: golden and silver foliage. Perfect for cooking. Woo lly Thyme: gre y in color. Great for rock gardens and ground cover. Creeping Thyme: colorful flowers that grow only 2 inches in height, also called mother-of-thymes. There are also “pink” creeping thyme varieties which ...
How to grow thyme from cuttings?
It’s best to purchase the plant or use some cuttings from another thyme plant. Plant the cuttings or seeds indoors 6-10 weeks before the last spring frost to get a head start. Be sure to choose a pot with good drainage.
Why do I need to grow thyme?
Most of them have beautiful light green leaves and dark green leaves. Another reason to grow thyme is that they attract bees and butterflies.
Is thyme hardy in the summer?
So whether you live in a tropical climate, or a cold climate, there's a thyme for everything! Most thyme varieties are hardy in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 9, and they don't like hot, humid summer or overly wet conditions. Most varieties also prefer full sun and very well drained soil.
Is there a shortage of thyme?
Thyme Varieties. Because there are so many varieties of thyme, there's really no shortage of different flavors and fragrances, but what's really great is that there is a thyme variety for every climate! So whether you live in a tropical climate, or a cold climate, there's a thyme for everything!
Can thyme be propagated from cuttings?
But not to worry, if those conditions don't pertain to your area, there's sure to be a thyme that's specific for your zone! All varieties of thyme are easily propagated vita cuttings, division and seed. Common Thyme: yellow and variegated foliage.
What is the most well known thyme?
Bees and other beneficial insects and pollinators flock to this plant when it blooms. Thymus coccineus, the red creeping thyme, is probably one of the most well known of all the thymes. Magenta coloured blooms hover over a delicate very low-growing and well behaved but extremely tough plant.
What is thyme used for?
Thyme comes in all shapes, sizes and colors; perfect for that small scale ground covering plant, or as a thyme lawn, or draping over a rock wall to soften and age it, Thymus has been used for centuries to add charm and romance to gardens.
What is silver thyme?
It makes a great weed smothering mat in time (no pun intended!) Thymus argentea, or silver thyme has green and pale silver variegated foliage on a shrubby little bush. It's a great accent against plants with darker foliage. Grow it as a hedge around a potager or knot garden, or in miniature landscapes as a shrub.
What is the best thyme for a patio?
Lovely, pale lilac blooms are a major pollinator attractant and can almost completely smother the plant. This is hands down the most best variety for thyme lawns and patio plantings, and for good reason. It's the top of my list. Thymus praecox, or mother-of-thyme is a loose billowing ground cover.
When does thyme bloom in Xeriscape?
With pale lime green foliage and tons of white blooms in early July, it's a good foil for many other plants and forms a thick ground cover below other perennial plants.
What is the flavor of thyme?
Thymol is the active ingredient and component of the essential oil that gives the herb its flavor. Neral and geranial give lemon thyme (T. x citriodorus) its citrus aroma. Lemon thyme cultivars include Silver King, Silver Queen, Doone Valley and Argenteus. Cultivars are available that evoke other citrus aromas, such as lime and orange. Cold-tolerant species include oregano-scented thyme (T. pulegioides), which gets its flavor from carvacrol; and caraway thyme (T. herba-barona), which receives its essence from carvone. The names "creeping thyme" and "mother-of-thyme" are often used interchangeably for the same plants.
Where does thyme grow?
Thyme grows throughout all of the Sunset Climate Zones of San Francisco and its surrounding counties. The plants adapt well to the low average rainfall and variable conditions of the many microclimates of the region; however, plants grown in coastal or foggy areas may experience fungal issues.
What is thyme used for?
Use culinary thyme fresh or dried, as a garnish and to flavor vinegars, herbed butters, teas, meat dishes, salads and soups. Thyme is one of the ingredients in the herbes de Provence blend used in classical French cooking.
What is the aroma of lemon thyme?
Neral and geranial give lemon thyme (T. x citriodorus) its citrus aroma. Lemon thyme cultivars include Silver King, Silver Queen, Doone Valley and Argenteus. Cultivars are available that evoke other citrus aromas, such as lime and orange.
What type of soil does thyme like?
Thyme tolerates poor so ils. While chalky soils are best, sandy soils and rocky soils are also good for the plants. Thyme will have trouble on clay soils because of its shallow roots and need for good drainage. Amend the soil to provide a pH range of approximately 6.3 to 6.8.
Why is thyme bad for clay soil?
Thyme will have trouble on clay soils because of its shallow roots and need for good drainage. Amend the soil to provide a pH range of approximately 6.3 to 6.8. Thyme benefits from a light fertilizer application once or twice yearly. Use an all-purpose or half-strength water-soluble fertilizer.
Is thyme an ornamental plant?
Culinary thyme may also serve as an ornamental. The plants attract bees and butterflies, the foliage offers an attractive scent and appearance, and variegated cultivars are available. For cooking, keep your plants close at hand.
