Large Thyme Thymus pulegioides
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- TY-mus pul-eg-ee-OY-dees
- Description
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Broad-leaved thyme is a fragrant, dwarf, woody evergreen in the Lamiaceae (mint) family. Found growing in sandy areas, roadsides, hills, grasslands, or rocky areas in its native Europe and Northwest China. The origin of the word "thyme" is from the Greek word thumos, which means "courage." During the Medieval Times, thyme was thought to have been an emblem of bravery. The word "thyme" may also have been derived from the Greek word thymos, meaning "perfume." The plants of this genus typically, are very fragrant. The species name, pulegioides, is derived from the Latin word pulegium and means "like pennyroyal." This references another plant known as European Pennyroyal.
It measures 8-12 inches tall and 8-12 inches wide and is commonly used as an ornamental groundcover or as an herb. Broad-leafed thyme performs best in well-drained sandy or loamy soils and prefers full sun. It is easy to grow and requires very little maintenance. If used for culinary purposes, it is best to harvest the leaves before the flowers open. The common method of propagation is by division in the spring or semi-hard cuttings in the mid to late summer.
The plant forms a mound and grows taller and more erect than creeping thyme. The edges of the stems are hairy, and all the stems have flowers. The flowers are tiny, tubular, and rose-purple in color. They appear in July and August. The leaves vary from dark green to variegated depending on the cultivar.
Broad-leafed thyme attracts butterflies and bees and is deer and rabbit resistant and drought tolerant. This woody perennial would be a wonderful addition to a patio garden, rock garden, or cottage garden. It is perfect as a border or container gardening. It is reportedly very similar to Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum.)
Quick ID Hints:
- Leaves are ovate and wider than Creeping Thyme
- All the stems flower
- Has a strong scent
- Tiny tubular rose-purple flower
- Taller and more erect than Creeping Thyme
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems provided that the plant is not overwatered or in poorly drained soil.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Vegetable, Herb and Mostly Native Pollinator Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Aureus'
Lemon scented variegated green with golden edged foliage, pale lilac flowers - 'Bertram Anderson'
Gold foliage, purple flowers, no strong citrus scent - 'Foxley'
Green and cream variegated leaves, pink flowers - 'Pennsylvania Dutch Tea'
Large dark green leaves, pink flowers, leaves used to make a strong tea
- 'Aureus'
- 'Aureus', 'Bertram Anderson', 'Foxley', 'Pennsylvania Dutch Tea'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Aureus'
Lemon scented variegated green with golden edged foliage, pale lilac flowers - 'Bertram Anderson'
Gold foliage, purple flowers, no strong citrus scent - 'Foxley'
Green and cream variegated leaves, pink flowers - 'Pennsylvania Dutch Tea'
Large dark green leaves, pink flowers, leaves used to make a strong tea
- 'Aureus'
- 'Aureus', 'Bertram Anderson', 'Foxley', 'Pennsylvania Dutch Tea'
- Tags:
-
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Thymus
- Species:
- pulegioides
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The leaves of the plant contain an essential oil that is used in making perfumes, antiseptics, expectorants, and deodorants. The lemon-scented leaves of some cultivars are used as a culinary herb to flavor foods and to make tea.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe to Northwest China
- Distribution:
- Native: Albania, Altay, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Central European Russia, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, East European Russia, Finland, Franc, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungry, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Krasnoyarsk, Krym, Netherlands, North Caucasus, North European Russia, Northwest European Russia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Sicilia, South European Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, West Siberia, Xinjiang, and Yugoslavia; Introduced: Canada--Manitoba, New Brunswick, Ontario, and Quebec; New Zealand, Primorye, USA--CT, DE, ME. MA, MI, NH, NY, OR, PA, VT, VA, and WA
- Wildlife Value:
- Nectar-rich flowers attract butterflies and bees. Pollinated by insects.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Fragrance
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer and rabbit resistant. Drought tolerant. Virtually disease and pest free.
- Edibility:
- The leaves may be used as a flavoring in foods such as chicken and fish. The leaves of the cultivar, 'Pennsylvania Dutch Tea,' are used to make a strong tea.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Ground Cover
- Herb
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Schizocarp
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is dried schizocarp with four chambers containing the seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- Tepals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The flowers are 0.25 inches in size, tubular, hairy, rose-purple blooms that occur from July-August. The corolla is irregular. The upper lip of the corolla is notched, and the lower lip is three-lobed. There are four stamens that protrude from the corolla.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fragrant
- Good Dried
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are dark green with reddish spots along the entire margin. Some cultivars' leaves are variegated green with golden edges or cream-colored edges. The leaves appear opposite, simple, and linear to ovate in shape. They typically have a strong scent.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- Yes
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- hairy reddish stems
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Patio
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Edible Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Diseases
- Dry Soil
- Foot Traffic
- Insect Pests
- Poor Soil
- Rabbits
