Thyme

Growth habit

Herbaceous

Perennation

Long-lived polycarpic perennial

Location

Robison Herb Garden

Source of plant

Companion Plants, Well-Sweep Herb Farm

Description

Plant broad-spreading, to 25 cm tall in flower; stems decumbent, terminating in an inflorescence or adecumbent or arching sterile shoot; flowering stems to 15 cm long, holotrichous; axillary leaf clusterssometimes present. Leaves shortly petiolate, gray-green, narrowly elliptic or elliptic-spatulate, 0.8-1.5 cm long (up to 2 cm on sterile shoots) 2-3 mm wide, acute or subobtuse, scattered long hairs aboveand below; glands of moderate density; venation camptodromous, lateral veins not prominent; marginflat, ciliate at base. Inflorescence lax-capitate or slightly elongated, ca. 1.5 cm in diameter; bractssimilar to leaves. Calyx 3.5-4.5 mm long, tube campanulate, pubescent, often purplish on dorsal side;upper lip generally longer than the tube, teeth ciliate; the upper narrowly lanceolate and long-pointed, to 1.2 mm long, the lower subulate, ca. 2mm long. Corolla 5.0-6.5 mm long, pale purple; tube slightly exserted, borne from late May to late June. The name 'Long-leaf Gray' refers to the distinct, large leaves of this plant, particularly on sterile shoots, and the gray-green colors of the foliage, which has a spicy, slightly citric scent. Young plants are low-growing, but develop into large, broad mounds with numerous, layered branches. Plants are quite showy in flower and are extremely winter hardy.

USDA Hardiness Zone

5

Special characteristics

fragrance