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| Herb of the Month |
| NAME: White Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum 'Albus') |
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| DESCRIPTION: A low-growing perennial to around 10cm tall. Tiny aromatic leaves are born on erect stems. Small white flowers are borne in summer and they are quite attractive.
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| ORIGIN: Mediterranean. |
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| CULTIVATION: Thyme requires a hot, sunny location and is at its aromatic best if grown in well-drained soils that are low in nutrients. It will thrive in stony soil and requires little watering once it is established.
Plant seed in spring, preferably in punnets to be transplanted later. New plants can easily be propagated by layering from an established clump or by dividing the plants and replanting rooted sections. The plant will also grow readily from cuttings taken in late spring.
Can be used as an attractive drought tolerant ground cover. The plant should be sheared back after flowering is complete to encourage future bushy growth.
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| USES: Thyme imparts excellent flavour to all kinds of red meat dishes, soups, sauces and vegetable dishes and is a favourite ingredient in stuffings for poultry.
Thyme has also had many traditional medicinal uses especially in the treatment of coughs and colds and also as an antiseptic. (It contains thymol.) The herb was often used to make skin tonics. Thyme oil is reputed to repel head lice, though the smell is very strong and care must be taken with young sensitive scalps.
Thyme is highly attractive to bees and, planted near the vegie garden, can help promote pollination. The bushes may also help to mask the smell of vegetables and reduce some insect attack.
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| This information on herbs is provided free from Isabell Shipard's book "How can I use HERBS in my daily life?" Available from our bookshop. |
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| www.herbsarespecial.com.au |
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