Large thyme

Large thyme Care

Thymus pulegioides

What is the plant

Thymus pulegioides, common names broad-leaved thyme or lemon thyme, is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae, native to Europe. It is a small spreading subshrub with strongly aromatic leaves, and lilac pink flowers in early summer.

Broad-leaved thyme is a creeping dwarf evergreen shrub with woody stems and a taproot. It grows to 5–25 cm (2–10 in) tall by 25 cm (10 in) wide. The reddish stems are squarish in cross-section and have hairs on the edges. The leaves are in opposite pairs with short stalks, and the linear ovate blades have tapering bases and untoothed margins. The plant flowers in July and August. The usually pink or mauve flowers form rounded umbels and each has a tube-like calyx and an irregular straight-tubed, hairy corolla. The upper petal is notched and the lower one is larger than the two lateral petals and has three flattened lobes which form a lip. Each flower has four projecting stamens and two fused carpels. The fruit is a dry, four-chambered schizocarp.

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Humidity

Dry

Lighting

Full Sun

Temperature

min -10°C

Hardiness zone

4 - 8

Difficulty

Hard

How to Care for the Plant

Water
Water thyme plants to a depth of 1 inch every 10 to 15 days during the summer months. Cease watering in early autumn several weeks before the first rain. Water during the winter only if rainfall is very scant, with dry spells lasting more than two to three weeks. In that case, water to 1 inch every 10 to 15 days.
Fertilizer
In early spring, you may fertilize with organic matter, like compost, but not much soil amendment is necessary.
Sunlight
Thyme thrives in full sun and loves heat. If you are growing in a pot indoors, plant near a sunny window.

Disease diagnosis

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Soil
Ideal soil for thyme is well draining and about 7.0 pH or slightly alkaline. If you have cold winters, remember to lightly mulch around the plants after the ground freezes.
Temperature
If thyme is grown as annual, plant cuttings or young thyme plants any time after the ground temperature reaches 70°F. This is usually 2 to 3 weeks before the last spring frost. As perennial, it can be grown in the areas with the lowest winter temperatures between -30°F and -20°F or -34.4°C and -28.9°C. However, it may not survive summer heat in some of these regions.
Popularity
658 people already have this plant 43 people have added this plant to their wishlists