Caraway Thyme

Caraway Thyme
Some 350 species of small, evergreen, aromatic, mostly woody-based perennials and subshrubs belong to this Eurasian genus, which occurs mainly on dry grassland and calcareous soils. Many species are good garden plants, having a neat habit, fragrant foliage, and colorful flowers; their small size is ideally suited to crevices in paving, rock gardens, walls, and containers. Although tiny, the numerous flowers produce copious nectar, making thymes important as bee plants. Thymes hybridize freely in cultivation, making the taxonomy of Thymus complex, with numerous synonyms and invalid names. In common with many pleasant-smelling plants, thyme came to symbolize death, because the souls of the dead were thought to rest in the flowers; the smell of thyme has apparently been detected at several haunted sites. It is also associated with various rituals once carried out by young women to reveal their true love. Thymes vary in aroma but the majority can be used to flavor food. Most widely used are T. vulgaris, T. x citriodorus and their cultivars.. The main medicinal thymes are T. serpyllum and T. vulgaris. Much of the dried thyme and essential oil of thyme in international trade comes from Spain, where there are 37 different species of Thymus, including 24 endemic species. The main species collected are T. praecox and T pulegioides ("tomillos serpoles"), and T. baeticus, T capitatus, T. hyemalis, T. mastichina, T. orospedanus, T. serpilloides subsp. gracilis, and T. zygis subsp. zygis ("tomillos"). There is concern that the harvesting of some rarer thymes-and even the rarer ones that are collected in error-is not sustainable. In addition, the practice of uprooting whole plants causes soil erosion in fragile, arid ecosystems. All thymes are rich in volatile oil, whcih consists mainly of thymol, a powerful antiseptic. The oil varies considerably in composition between species and from plant to plant. Commercial thyme oil is largely derived from T. zygis (Spanish sauce thyme), a white-flowered species found only in Spain and Portugal. Oil from T. serpyllum (sometimes known as serpolet oil) differs from T. vulgaris in being lower in carvacol and higher in linalol and cymol, and thus having a sedative effect. Red and white thyme oil refer to the color of the oil, which turns red when oxidized by contact with metal, but remains clear otherwise. Thymus is the original Greek name, which was used by Theophrastus for both thyme and savory (Satureja, See, Savory).

Wiry, carpeting subshrub with long, slightly arching stems and dark green, ovate-lanceolate, caraway-scented leaves, to 7mm (¼in) long. Loose clusters of pink to mauve flowers appear in mid-summer.

Common Name:

Caraway Thyme

Botanical Name:

Thymus herba-barona

Genus:

Thymus

Family:

Lamiaceae

Native Location:

Corsica and Sardinia

Cultivation:

Well-drained soil in sun. Most thymes prefer neutral to alkaline soil and thrive in stony or rocky situations. Thymes dislike wet winters, and benefit from a layer of gravel to protect the foliage from contact with wet soil. In autumn remove fallen leaves that settle on thyme plants as these may cause rotting. Trim lightly after flowering and remove dead flower heads to encourage bushiness. Remove green shoots of variegated cultivars to maintain variegation. In areas with cold, damp winters, T. camphoratus is best grown in an alpine house. Thymus vulgaris is used in companion planting to control flea beetles, cabbage white butterflies, and other cabbage pests.

Propagation:

By seed sown in spring (species only); by softwood or semi-ripe cuttings in summer; by division in spring.

Harvest:

Whole plants and flowering tops are collected in summer, as flowering begins, and distilled for oil, or dried for elixirs, liquid extracts, and infusions. Sprigs are picked during the growing season and used fresh, or dried for infusions.

Variations:

Lemon-Scented
syn. f. citrata
Lemon Caraway
Has lemon-scented leaves and mauve flowers.

Nutmeg
Has nutmeg-scented leaves and darker pink flowers in late summer.

Height:

5-10cm (2-4in)

Width:

60cm (24in)

Hardiness:

Z6-8

Parts Used:

Leaves

Properties:

An aromatic herb with a caraway scent.

Culinary Uses:

Leaves are traditionally used to flavor a baron of beef; also to flavor soups, game and meat dishes in which wine and garlic predominate.

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