Black thyme (thyme): types and varieties with descriptions and photos

Black thyme is used by gardeners for landscaping. It is planted on alpine slides, small flower beds. It harmonizes perfectly with the paths laid out with decorative stone.

Thyme blooms almost the entire season: flowering begins in May, ends at the end of August. But even without buds, the plant is very decorative. It is worth stirring up the curtain a little - the air will smell like resin. Phytoncides of the plant have a beneficial effect on the body.

Thyme has medicinal properties. It has been successfully used in traditional medicine. Brewed herbal tea with a spoonful of honey will pleasantly warm the gardener on a winter evening.

Description of the plant

Thyme represents the Lamiaceae family. The stem of thyme is low: 20-40 cm. It is crowned with sprigs creeping along the ground. They resemble blueberry shoots. The plant also covers the soil with a continuous carpet. The green twigs and stem are covered with fine hairs.

Elongated leaves are attached to the stem with short petioles. They have scent glands. They produce essential oils. The taste and smell of thyme is determined by the number of such glands.

Flowers are collected in a bunch. They are white, lilac, purple, pink. The inflorescences are very compact, densely arranged on the branches. After flowering, fruits are formed - nuts. They have an elongated shape. Their length is 5-6 mm.

In the wild, an unpretentious plant is found on roadsides, mountain slopes, sunny forest edges. It feels comfortable on the placers of stones.

Thyme grows fast in the garden. It reproduces by seeds and rooted shoots (vegetatively). If you do not limit the area, thyme will cover all the ridges in the garden.

Thyme Varieties

This plant is from the Lamiaceae family. 400 species of this unpretentious shrub are known. They differ in the size of the stems, their ascending or creeping position, the color of the corollas, and the aroma. The most famous types of wild thyme are ordinary and creeping.

Breeders create new varieties of thyme. Their characteristics are improved relative to the wild counterpart. They are more decorative, their aroma is brighter. Gardeners have plenty to choose from. You can dig up a bush in the wild and plant it in the garden. And you can buy a cultivated plant.

Purple Purple

This shrub has short shoots (10 cm). The corollas of flowers are painted with a bright purple-violet color. Covers the soil with a dense carpet. Aggressive variety towards other plants. Such shrubs should be planted in limited areas. Gardeners use sheets of steel, plastic, natural or artificial stone as a barrier.

Mountain

This is what people call flea thyme. This low plant has lignified roots. They produce low shoots (15 cm). The stems spread or slightly rise above the ground. The stem is found naked or covered with hairs, it is faceted or rounded. The leaves are also covered with hairs.

Blooms with pale pink or rose red flowers. The air around him is saturated with ether. Thrives in dry rocky areas. Does not tolerate excessive soil moisture.

Garden

Gardeners choose varieties of Bogorodskaya grass in accordance with their own preferences and characteristics of the plant. For planting in the garden, thyme resistance to frost is taken into account. Do not plant heat-loving species in regions with cold winters.

When flooding the site, moisture-resistant varieties should be selected. For landing on an alpine slide, a flea or mountain one is recommended.

Gardeners should take into account the combination of plants with other inhabitants of the garden. The color and height of the cover should blend harmoniously with the existing landscape.

Chalky

Prefers chalky hillsides. Feels great in the place where limestone comes to the surface. Drought tolerant.

Has bare short stems. They branch a lot. Shoots up to 12 cm long rise vertically upwards.The flowers are inconspicuous: the corolla is greenish, the petals are pink and purple. The plant is not decorative. But the flavor is strong. Excellent honey plant. It should be placed near tomato, pepper, eggplant beds to attract pollinating insects

The decrease in nutrients affects the condition of the shrub: it becomes less lush. But the flavor intensifies. Chalk thyme retains its scent when dried, even when stored carelessly.

Rainbow

The second name is vegetable. Its value is fragrant juicy shoots. They are used for cooking.

The stem rises 25 cm above the soil surface. The leaves are green-gray, fragrant. From germination to the first cut takes 30 days. Sensitive to soil moisture. When cultivated in cold regions, sunny thyme requires shelter.

Pygmy

The smallest of thyme. The trunk rises only 3 cm above the soil surface. It blooms in May-July with pale pink flowers. Works great without fertilizer. But it needs regular watering. Decorative all season. Value: dense cover of the soil and preservation of a pleasant view throughout the warm period.

Bug

Subshrub up to 15 cm high. Creeping shoots, easy rooting. Blooms with pink flowers from May to August.

Grows on stony chalk slopes, Carboniferous outcrops, bare soils of pine forests. Sometimes settles on sandy soils. Drought resistant. It has value as a medicinal plant. In the garden, decorate the alpine slide.

Spruce

Gardeners have to choose between planting bush or creeping thyme. The first one rises above the soil surface by 20-25 cm. It has looser curtains. Bush thyme looks great as a border of paths or a colored border.

Choose varieties suitable for the region. The soil for planting a perennial shrub needs to be prepared in a special way.

Altaic

Subshrub with strongly branching shoots. Stem height 15-20 cm. Settles on rocks and mountain slopes. Selects chalky, gravelly and sandy soils. Purple flowers bloom in June-August. Excellent honey plant. Grows in valleys and foothills of Altai.

Value of the species: high content of essential oils, decorative, unpretentiousness. The plant will decorate the alpine hill in the garden, attract pollinators and provide the gardener with medicinal raw materials.

Forest

Thyme can also be found in the forest zone. He settles in well-lit glades, edges. Semi-shrub chooses dry sandy or podzolic soils. It blooms with pink flowers from May to August. Stems grow up to 12 cm tall.

Value of the species: unpretentiousness, the ability to grow and bloom on dry, poor soils.

Beautiful

Stem height - 30 cm. Shoots are long, creeping. The leaves are elongated. It blooms with large purple flowers collected in an ear. Prefers steppe areas open to the sun. Forms dense thickets. It is undemanding to soils and moisture. Value - decorative and unpretentious. Disappearing view. Gardeners can save the population by growing it on their plot.

Sommertime

This variety differs in that strongly pubescent shoots do not lodge. They form a ball of bright green color with a diameter of 25 cm. Sommertime exudes a strong aroma. Gardeners grow it in pots to decorate the garden. Thyme hibernates at home.

Perennial

Thyme is a perennial plant. Its stems and leaves are green in color. Corollas of flowers are purple, pink, purple, even green. For successful cultivation in a summer cottage, you should carefully study the characteristics of the variety or species.

Ural

Thyme is found in the foothills of the Southern Urals. It grows on rocky, gravelly, chalky, sandy, chernozem soils. Dislikes loam and clay. Special Features:

• stress resistance;
• drought tolerance;
• demanding for good lighting.

Gardeners can decorate with an undemanding creeper with large pink flowers.

Mossy

Low Bogorodsk grass. The stems of the semi-shrub rise 1 cm above the soil. The dark green leaves are 3 mm long. Flowers are absent. Forms a moss-like coating. Gardeners use thyme as an easy, fragrant substitute for moss.

Crimean

Subshrub has chosen the Crimean peninsula. Thyme grows on rocky and sandy soils in valleys and mountains. The height of the stems is up to 15 cm. The flowers have a purple-pink hue, they open in June-July. The fruits are black nuts. Value: rich aroma, drought tolerance.

Difficult to endure cool winters. With a sufficient amount of snow, it winters well, with “black frosts” thyme freezes out. Gardeners in regions with cold winters should cover the plant.

Taliyeva

Subshrub with stems up to 12 cm high. Pink-violet flowers. For growth, he chooses marl, scree, limestone rubble. Begins to bloom in June. Nuts ripen at the end of August. It grows wild in North-Eastern Europe and the Urals.

Early Minor

Grows slowly. The height of the stems of this thyme variety is 5-10 cm. The pubescent leaves are small and exude a strong aroma. Blossoms earlier than other varieties: in June. The leaves are lilac or light purple. Gardeners use it to decorate alpine slides.

Red Carpet

Stem height 5 cm. Red flowers bloom in June. Grows in full sun and partial shade. The variety prefers light fertile soils, but can also exist on poor stony soils. Designed to decorate gardens.

Donna Valei

The stems of this thyme variety rise up to a maximum of 30 cm above the soil. Shoots are decorated with small yellow-green leaves. A distinctive feature - the leaves smell like lemon. Inflorescence capitate, loose. The flowers are light pink.

Forms dense curtains. Does not tolerate heavy soils and overflow. May freeze in winter. Appreciated by gardeners for its decorative effect and unusual aroma.

Common Compactus

Compact shrub. The height of its stems does not exceed 15 cm. The shoots have a cylindrical profile. Down below. The leaves are small, oval, lanceolate. Color - dark green. Pale pink flowers have a purple hue. Bloom in July-August.

Excellent in fertile light soils with good drainage. Appreciated for neat jackets.

Creeping

Subshrub with creeping shoots. Thyme flowers are light purple in color. The inflorescence is a discontinuous spike. The leaves are dark green, lanceolate. Downy below.

Excellent ground cover. It grows rapidly: in a season it is able to populate the entire site (under favorable conditions). Used in alpine slides and fragrant borders. The value of the type of thyme: unpretentiousness, availability of planting material.

Flea

The second name is mountainous. Prefers rocky poor soils with good drainage. Easily tolerates drought. Does not tolerate waterlogging. The stems rise to 15 cm. The flowers are red-pink or pink-lilac. Valued for its unpretentiousness and persistent aroma.

Dorfler

Native of the Balkan Mountains. Does not tolerate frost. It blooms with pinkish-gray flowers. Curved leaves are covered with frequent white hairs. Very decorative, but capricious.

Lemon-scented (Archers Gold)

This is a man-made variety of thyme. Introduced into culture recently. The leaves have a characteristic green-gold color. Flowers are pale pink. During flowering, the plant presents a solid pink carpet.

Sensitive to waterlogging. Fails on clays and loams. Used by summer residents on alpine slides. Valued for its decorative effect, bright aroma and medicinal properties.

Subarctic

Subshrub with erect stems inhabits the forests of Eastern Europe. The type of thyme is easily recognizable by its characteristic sharp carpet.Forms turf quickly. Drought tolerant and cold hardy. Purple flowers are collected in capitate inflorescences. Stems and leaves are pubescent. Valued for its high content of essential oils.

Choosing the right place to grow

Thyme is an undemanding plant. But to get a he althy beautiful plant, you must fulfill the requirements of agricultural technology:

1. The landing site should be sunny or with light partial shade. Thyme will stretch when planted in the shade. The shrub becomes loose, loses its decorative effect.
2. Thyme varieties do not tolerate drafts. Shrubs should be planted in a site protected from the northern and northeastern winds. It is not bad to arrange landings on the south side of the buildings.
3. The landing site should not be flooded with melt or rainwater. It is advisable to organize drainage.
4. The soil should be prepared in the chosen place.To do this, it is recommended to study the characteristics of the plant and the conditions for its growth in the wild. Heavy soils (clays and loams) should be structured. It is required to add sand, chalk gravel (if necessary), mature compost.
5. Special attention should be paid to the acidity of the soil. For thyme, a neutral or slightly alkaline reaction is acceptable. On acidic soils, add lime or ash.

With proper placement, the shrub will please the gardener with a dense fragrant curtain already in the year of planting.

How to plant thyme

Thyme is a cold hardy plant. It can be planted immediately after the snow melts. When planting with a bush or a rooted shoot, the plant should not be buried. After completion of work, the soil around it should be mulched. Suitable stone chips, crushed stone, pebbles.

Thyme also takes root during autumn plantings. The best time is the beginning of September. Shoots and bushes will have time to grow the root systems necessary for wintering. This ensures the survival of the plant during the cold period.

Methods of reproduction

Unpretentious groundcover is easy to propagate by seed or vegetatively.

Seeds

This is a laborious method. To get a flowering plant in the first year, gardeners grow seedlings at home:

1. In early February, the seeds are sown in seedling boxes to a depth of 0.5 cm.
2. They are covered with a film with drainage holes for air access. Remove condensation from film regularly.
3. Thyme seeds germinate in a warm place. The tray should be placed close to the heat source.
4. After germination, the film is removed, the thyme bushes are thinned out. Leave strong. Weak ones can be added to tea.
5. When the soil dries, thyme is sprayed. It is important not to pour the soil: this will lead to rotting of the roots.
6. Thyme bushes are regularly hardened: the procedure will help them take root faster in the garden.
7. Thyme is planted in a permanent place after the soil has warmed up. 4-5 degrees is enough.
8. The first 2-3 days thyme needs shading with lutrasil. It is impossible to overexpose thyme in the shade: the shoots will stretch.

The advantage of this method: obtaining a large amount of planting material.

Shanks

Thyme shoots root easily. For reproduction, a non-lignified cutting is selected and a piece of the required length is cut off from it. For undersized varieties, the stalk should have a maximum size of 5 cm. For tall ones - 10-15 cm.

The stalk is immediately planted in a permanent place. A mini-greenhouse is being built above it. After 2-3 weeks, the gardener has a new plant.

Sometimes a thyme cutting is rooted in a greenhouse. The signal for root growth is the appearance of new green leaves.

Thyme shoots often take root on their own. The gardener only needs to cut off a branch with roots and transplant to a new place.

Advantages of the method: preservation of hybrid characteristics and simplicity.

Dividing the bush

Used when it is necessary to reconstruct an alpine slide or curb. The mother plant is completely dug up. Roots and shoots straighten out. The bush is cut with a sharply ground shovel or cut with garden shears. The incision sites are powdered with crushed activated charcoal. Delenki are transplanted to their designated places.

The disadvantage of the method: the mother plant is injured. The gardener requires skill and caution.

Features of plant care

Thyme requires little maintenance. The gardener gets a beautiful plant with minimal labor.

Irrigation

The feature of the shrub is drought resistance. It should only be watered during severe drought. In this case, only slightly moisten the topsoil.

It is useful to spray the bushes before flowering. This will allow the plant to gain strength.

The overflow of thyme is very dangerous: the plant is easily affected by root rot and disappears. In case of prolonged heavy rainfall, the bushes should be covered with a film.

It is important to remember: thyme produces ether only in dry, hot weather.

Light mode

Bushes are demanding on sunlight. In the shade, they wither, lose their compactness and decorative effect. Thyme shoots stretch and turn pale. The curtain is crumbling.

Beautiful and fragrant plant will delight the gardener when placed in a sunny place.

Feeding

Thyme does not need special soil fertility. Most species grow in the wild on poor chalky or podzolic soils. Thyme varieties require moderate application of mature compost.

When growing thyme in the garden, sometimes lime or bone meal should be added. It is not required to fertilize thyme with organic matter or mineral complexes.

Weeding

Thyme does not tolerate shading. He needs bright sunlight. Weeds deprive him of a comfortable existence. They must be weeded out.

Drainage around the thyme with stone chips will eliminate the appearance of harmful plants. The introduction of chalk and constant loosening of the soil will help.

Pruning and shaping thyme

To obtain dense coverage and long flowering, thyme must be cut. For this procedure, shoots with a small number of leaves are chosen. Removing them provides the gardener with beautiful thyme throughout the summer.

Sometimes you need to give the thyme a special shape. On the alpine slides, it must occupy a certain place. In this case, the thyme is cut at the request of the gardener using a topiary frame.

Often, gardeners carry out a healing pruning procedure after the flowering of thyme. Thyme is mowed, left 2-3 cm above the ground. This event is successful in regions with warm winters. In cold areas, thyme may freeze.

Diseases and pests

Thyme is resistant to diseases when properly grown. In rainy summers or with excessive watering, thyme is affected by fungi. In this case, the bush is completely dug up, the soil is disinfected with a solution of copper sulfate.

Thyme is loved by aphids, weevil and sandy linger. But they settle on weak bushes. He althy plants do not attract pests. Prevention is timely weeding, loosening. Compliance with the rules of cultivation is the main condition for the existence of beautiful thyme bushes in the garden

Combination with other plants

All varieties and types of thyme go well with other plants. The ground cover has a superficial root system. This allows it to be grouped with deep rooted plants.

Often gardeners prefer to place thyme as a tapeworm. It is planted in hanging planters, fill a clearing in the recreation area. The ground cover also looks lovely in these cases.

Gardeners are looking for interesting combinations of colors and aromas when forming plantings. Flowers are odorless, but with large bright petals, complement the ether of thyme.

Often, gardeners place thyme next to strong-smelling flowers. They fill open ground. In this case, you should be very careful: mixing flavors can lead to negative consequences. The existing composition will have to be destroyed.

Thyme is a wonderful honey plant. It is specially planted next to vegetables that require pollination. The presence of thyme groundcover in the garden increases the yield of cucumbers and tomatoes.

Thyme on the windowsill

Unpretentiousness of thyme allows you to grow it in an apartment. It is required to create comfortable conditions for thyme:

• pick up a container slightly larger than thyme roots (planting material is taken when dividing the bush);
• fill inside soil for succulents or cacti;
• add chalk gravel;
• top mulch with stone chips;
• put on a sunny windowsill;
• protect from drafts.

The advantage of thyme: it perfectly tolerates the dry winter air of rooms. Watering is required to be carried out as the clod of earth dries. On cloudy days, thyme should be allowed to light up to 18 hours.

By placing thyme on the windowsill, gardeners can enjoy thyme essential oil throughout the year.

Pros and cons of landscape design

The presence of a shrub in the landscape will bring a lot of positive emotions to the gardener:

1. The plant can serve as a background for large plantings or act as a tapeworm. There is no limit to imagination and creativity.
2. The aroma of spices saturates the air with ether, heals it. Walking in the garden, the summer resident receives an aromatherapy session.
3. Honey plant enlivens the site: attracts bright butterflies, bumblebees. The urban dweller likes this unity with nature.
4. Beauty is not the only benefit of having thyme in the garden. A gardener can store healing herbs for the winter.
5. Shrub provides material for bouquets. Bogorodskaya grass goes well with mint, lovage and silver wormwood. Popular belief ascribes to such a collection the ability to protect against evil spirits.

There is only one disadvantage of the presence of a semi-shrub: rapid growth and aggressive capture of the territory. This problem is solved by mechanical landing restriction.

Where thyme is used

The shrub has an interesting chemical composition:

• acids (ursulic, quinic, chlorogenic, coffee, oleanolic);
• fats;
• vitamins (C, A, PP);
• mineral s alts;
• flavonoids;
• gum.

This makes it possible to use the leaves and stems for medicinal purposes. The oil obtained from thyme is used as a bactericidal and antiviral agent. There are many prescriptions for various ailments in the home first aid kit.

The plant is an excellent aphrodisiac. Thyme extract is part of natural medicines to increase potency.

Essential oil is popular in scent healing. Its aroma is used to relax and calm stressed people. It is dripped into the container of an aromatic lamp. A candle lit at the bottom evaporates the water and vaporizes the air in the room.

Infusion or decoction is prescribed as a prophylactic or adjuvant for the treatment of diseases of the nervous system.Drinking drinks relieves irritation, improves sleep. Often canvas bags with dried thyme are hung indoors. The room is filled with the smell of a flowering meadow. The mood of the people in it rises.

The phytoncides contained in thyme heal the air. Pathogenic bacteria die. This property is useful in SARS epidemics.

Thyme improves immunity and strengthens the body. Increased resistance to colds, SARS and influenza. The infusion effectively treats a wet cough.

Shrubs and culinary specialists did not ignore. Mediterranean cuisine has many recipes where spice leaves are used. Every gardener at least once tried black or green tea with thyme and bought spicy mixtures with this plant. Thyme extract often makes dishes original and unforgettable.

Beauticians use the bactericidal properties of the shrub to refresh inflamed, acne-prone skin. Infusion baths soothe and nourish the skin with vitamins and minerals.

Thyme infusion recipe

Tincture in a water bath is used for rinsing the mouth and throat, inhalation, rinsing hair instead of purchased products. How to cook:

• grind equal parts mint and thyme (dried or fresh);
• a tablespoon of the mixture is poured into a glass of water heated to 80 degrees;
• the dishes are wrapped and infused for an hour in a warm place;
• ready infusion after filtering is divided into 4 equal parts.

Take the remedy regardless of food. For taste, it can be diluted with water and sweetened with honey.

Decoction of thyme is prepared like this. Dry or fresh grass should be crushed (plant fractions will give all the elements more fully). Pour 1 liter of cold water and bring to a boil in a water bath. Wrap, cool, strain. The decoction is taken in equal parts throughout the day.

Thyme spirit tincture

This remedy is recommended to be taken internally and used instead of lotion for problem skin. How to cook:

• grind a glass of fresh thyme shoots;
• put in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid;
• pour 0.5 l of good vodka;
• keep in a cool dark place for 3 weeks;
• shake once every 7 days.

Strain the finished infusion and store in the refrigerator. Take orally half a teaspoon once a day. To cleanse the skin, wipe the face with a cotton pad soaked in tincture. It is recommended to add the product to the water when rinsing the hair (a teaspoon per liter of warm water).

Advantages of the remedy: alcohol infusion of thyme is stored for a long time (up to 1 year), prepared in June (the herb gains maximum useful properties). Disadvantage: not everyone is allowed to drink alcohol.

The benefits and harms of plants

There are no absolutely useful or harmful plants in nature. Before using drugs, you should familiarize yourself with the properties and contraindications. If necessary, visit a doctor before treatment.

Thyme has a strong effect on the body:

1. The shrub has anti-inflammatory, analgesic properties. Infusions are used for toothache as a mouth rinse. Decoctions help reduce inflammation in sore throat or stomatitis.
2. Thyme helps to normalize blood circulation.
3. Traditional medicine recommends using a decoction or oil as a disinfectant for minor cuts and skin injuries. For gardeners working with soil, this is especially useful.
4. Oil promotes healing of wounds and cracks. Fragrant medicine will appeal to children. It should be in every gardener's first aid kit.
5. Herbal tea strengthens the immune system. It will help improve the condition, helps with furunculosis, diabetes. But you need to visit a doctor to prescribe a treatment regimen.

Useful properties of fragrant herbs are used in preparations for the treatment of colds and flu. Vitamin thyme tea is useful for spring beriberi.

Contraindications

Not everyone is allowed to use thyme preparations without harm to he alth. You should limit the use of drugs and teas:

• pregnant and lactating women;
• for patients with liver and kidney disease;
• suffering from gastric and duodenal ulcers;
• allergy sufferers;
• people with high blood pressure.

Thyme will not be useful for people with individual intolerance to its components. Thyme has the ability to warm. Its use as an antipyretic will lead to undesirable consequences. The patient's condition will worsen.

It is important to remember that long-term use of medications will cause nausea and vomiting. The use of funds should be stopped and consult a doctor.

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