• Aromatic
• Tactile thyme
• Loved by bees
• Lovely compact bush type

A very aromatic thyme with a strong camphor smell, it is perfect to plantin an easily accessible place for touching to release the scent – perfect for those sensory gardens. It has a strong flavour which is not always pleasant due to the camphor, but dont let this put you off including it in your garden. In common with other thymes the flowers are alight with foraging bees and butterflies in the summer.

Plant care

• Height: 30-60cm
• Type: Hardy
• Aspect: Sun
• Soil: Well drained
• Flower colour: Purple
• Flowering period: June – August

Thyme is a plant that just has to be in full sun it can never really be too hot for this fragrant herb, the more sun, the better the flavour and aroma. It also needs a well-drained soil and if this doesnt describe your garden it is better to grow thyme in a pot, wall or rockery. Camphor thyme tends to be a little less hardy than other thymes and is better grown in a nice sheltered spot over winter. The wetness of the soil and lack of light over winter can affect thyme as well, I know from experience with my heavy clay. If you have one growing in full sun between one and seven in the afternoon in summer thats fantastic, but the direct sun is reduced to about three hours in winter and it just isnt enough. Camphor thyme should be trimmed throughout the year and not cut back after flowering like other upright thyme varieties. It is not always hardy over winter in the UK.

Usage

One of the most widely used culinary herbs; this fragrant aromatic little gem is found growing wild in Portugal. It has a very strongly aromatic flavour and should be used sparingly to flavour meat dishes, either by adding whole stems (which are later removed) where the leaves will melt from them into the dishes, or by stripping the leaves and flowers a good method for using in marinades.
Thyme essential oil contains thymol which is antiseptic and an expectorant which makes it an excellent herb for cough syrups which helps kill bacteria and loosen phlegm. A tea made from thyme can be used as a gargle to soothe sore throats and as an antiseptic can be applied as a disinfecting wash for minor cuts and grazes.