Have you ever wondered about the bundles of bamboo stems you see for sale just about everywhere, from novelty stores to warehouse clubs?They’re called “lucky bamboo,” and despite their ubiquitous presen
12.06.2023 - 00:57 / gardenerspath.com
How to Grow and Care for Common Thyme Thymus vulgarisIf you could put summer in a bottle and save it, it would probably smell a lot like thyme.
The perennial culinary herb has always been associated with the scents and flavor notes of the season for me because of how prolific it is in my gardens at this time of year.
Thyme is a name given to many herbs in the Thymus genus, which is made up of over 350 species, but the most common one used for culinary and ornamental purposes is T. vulgaris, which we’ll focus on here.
The three most popular varieties of T. vulgaris are English, French, and German thyme.
We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission.
All are low-growing, woody shrubs, with small roundish leaves and purple flowers. Part of the mint (Lamiaceae) family, thyme is known for its many culinary, medicinal, and ornamental uses.
Read on to learn about growing this versatile, easygoing herb and its long and storied past.
Cultivation and HistoryThyme has been utilized by humans for over two millennia, and its existence as a species predates homo sapiens, with evidence discovered in fossil remains that are over five million years old.
One of the earliest known uses of this herb was in ancient Egypt, where it was used for embalming the dead and was thought to assist them on their way as they passed on to the next life.
Ancient Romans believed it to be a useful antidote to poison. Emperors would often include this herb in their meals and even scented their baths with it.
It was also during this era that it was established as a symbol of courage.
Later, in the Middle Ages, soldiers were often given bouquets that included thyme as they were sent into battle.
And prior
Have you ever wondered about the bundles of bamboo stems you see for sale just about everywhere, from novelty stores to warehouse clubs?They’re called “lucky bamboo,” and despite their ubiquitous presen
For a funky-looking annual that’s just unusual enough to be totally awesome, how about giving some bells of Ireland a ring?We link to vendors to help you find relevant products.
Otherwise known as toyon, California holly, or Christmas berry, Heteromeles arbutifoliais an excellent slope-stabilizing and habitat plant, host to myriad insects including pollinating butterflies and moths.An iconic staple of California chaparral and oak woodland
The bold flower clusters of Clivia in early to mid-spring and their arching, often symmetrical, strap-like foliage make them stunning additions to an indoor plant collection.This guide will discuss how to care for them as hous
If you love growing common sage in your herb garden and live in a warm area, you’ll want to consider adding Cleveland sage into the mix.Salvia clevelandii, also known as California blue, frag
You gotta love a plant that makes you do a double-take. One that really makes you pull your shades down for a second, unobstructed eyeful. Take the buttonbush, for example.At first glance, your gaze may pass over a buttonbush’s ro
Bright and cheerful with a heavenly fragrance, daffodils are among the most beloved of spring’s harbingers.The flowers are notable for their hues of yellow or
The captivating Yucca brevifolia, commonly known as the Joshua tree, is a member of the agave (Agavaceae) family.With the Mojave, Great Basin, and western Sonoran D
If you’re a “Here We Come A-wassailing,” Yule log, Tiny Tim, and plum pudding-type of holiday reveler, have I got the holly for you to grow at home!English, aka common, holly (Ilex aquifolium) is native to Europe, no
Himalayan honeysuckle, Leycesteria formosa, is just as beautiful as all the other types of honeysuckle plants, yet offers its own unique appeal.L. formosa can be grown as a vine or a shrub, and it produces s
The Forsythia genus is a group of plants in the Oleaceae, or olive family. It includes 11 species of deciduous woody shrubs that bear bold yellow flowers in early spring.Suited to gardeners in USDA Hardiness
These peculiar desert plants bring a sense of wonder to the arid landscapes they thrive in with their distinctive and stunning appearance.They are popular in xeriscape gardens and can be found in many co