Content
- Thyme - a species-rich culinary and medicinal herb
- Variety of different flavors
- The real thyme
- The lemon thyme
- The cascade thyme
- Unusual species for garden and balcony
- Crawling or standing? Varieties for different garden design
- Tips & Tricks
Thyme - a species-rich culinary and medicinal herb
Thyme is far from being the same thyme - currently there are about 210 different species known, which differ not only by external factors such as height and shape, color of flowers and leaves and in the frost hardiness, but also in taste and healing power. Here are some of the most important and interesting varieties.
Variety of different flavors
The characteristic aroma of thyme is unmistakable - and yet the different varieties are very different in intensity and taste. In addition to milder and strong species, there are also popular and less known - but very interesting - breeds with amazing flavors. The best known varieties are likely
The real thyme
The mostly spherical True Thyme has a very large variety of varieties that u. a. are commercially available under the names "German Thyme", "French Thyme" or "Swiss Thyme". The plants reach - depending on the variety - heights between 15 to 40 centimeters and can bloom purple, pink or even white.The real thyme grows upright and is frost hardy.
The lemon thyme
Even the popular lemon thyme has a large variety of different varieties, which can vary greatly in growth habit and colors. Some species grow upright, others more in a loose way or even as a creeping groundcover. Some lemon thyme have green leaves, others yellow or bicoloured. Lemon thyme is between two and 20 centimeters high and have - depending on the variety - pronounced citrusy taste.
The cascade thyme
In contrast to the other species-rich species of thyme, there is only one subspecies of the cascade thyme - Thymus longicaulis ssp.odoratus. This vigorous thyme makes large and long shoots, which can be up to 25 centimeters (sometimes even longer). The elongated leaves have a distinctive light green color, the flowers show up between May and July in their rich light purple splendor. This thyme is particularly suitable for planting pots or window boxes, as its long shoots decoratively hang down. It is sometimes referred to as porcini mushroom thyme.
Unusual species for garden and balcony
In addition to the listed known varieties, the plant family of thyme provides some very unusual specimens with some very special flavors.
No thyme in the botanical sense, but strongly scented with thyme - and just as this as a seasoning versatile use - is the Jamaica thyme, which is also available under the names "Cuban oregano" or "Coleus amboinicus".
Crawling or standing? Varieties for different garden design
Some types of thyme are due to their creeping growth form excellently as ground cover or even to the firm odorless grass. In particular, cumin thyme, lavender or some types of lemon thyme form dense, evergreen cushions. If such a herbal turf is more often entered, it is advisable to create a path with the help of stone slabs or the like - the kicks would ultimately lead to clear trail marks.
Tips & Tricks
If you like to smoke fish, meat or sausage yourself, the intensely aromatic mastic thyme (Thymus mastichina) is best.