Culinary Thymes
The general preferences for culinary use include mostly upright thymes bred and cultivated specifically for the purpose. French and English thyme are of course the classic culinary choices but the many citrusy cultivars can also add a nice zest to any dish.
Note: Thymes are famously promiscuous and nomenclature is a bit of a mess so in most cases we've referred to the International Thymus Register and Checklist (2009) ,by Margaret Easter, who has studied the genus thoroughly.
Description: An upright thyme with mid green lemon-scented leaves. The most commonly produced lemon thyme.
Height: to 1 ft. Spread: to 1 ft.
Description: A very popular upright cultivar with a strong lemon scent and green and golden variegated leaves. Raised and introduced by Rosemary Titterington of Iden Croft Nursery in England.
Height: to 1 ft. Spread: to 1 ft.
Thymus 'Jekka'
Description: an exceptionally vigorous and cold-hardy thyme introduced by Jekka's Herb Farm of England. Mat-forming with aromatic leaves that are easy to harvest and our personal favorite for culinary use. Long, lateral stems grow quickly and can be harvested and dried with very little effort.
Height: to 6 in. Spread: to 2 ft.
Thymus 'Fragrantissimus' (Rose-scented)
Description: A unique cultivar of uncertain origin prior to 1932 with slightly fuzzy, grayish leaves that have a pleasant rose scent. An adventurous choice for culinary application and makes an excellent herbal tea.
Height: to 1 ft. Spread: to 1 ft.
Description: Our own introduction from a chance seedling that we selected for its compact habit, fine narrow foliage & sweet lemon fragrance. An excellent culinary thyme and one of the hardiest of the upright lemon thymes.
Height: to 1 ft. Spread: to 1 ft.
Description: A unique cultivar of unknown origin from sometime before 1982. Leaves are narrow and grey-green with a strong, pleasant orange scent.
Height: to 1 ft. Spread: to 1 ft.
Description: An exceptionally ornamental culinary thyme of unknown origin. Very compact and upright growth with gorgeous flower carpets in summer.
Height: to 1 ft. Spread: to 1 ft.
Description: A selection from The Thyme Garden of Alsea, OR from a seedling of T. 'Orange Balsam.' Leaves are dark green with a sweet, tropical orange fragrance.
Height: to 1 ft. Spread: to 1 ft.
Description: Introduced by Cyrus Hyde of Well-Sweep Nursery in 1981. Dark green leaves with cream-colored centers that are reminscent of the Wedgewood china pattern.
Height: to 1 ft. Spread: to 1 ft.
Description: a mat-forming species from Corsica and Sardinia with dark green foliage and a very strong caraway scent. Blooms pale mauve flowers in summer.
Height: to 4 in. Spread: to 1 ft.
Description: Also known as common thyme. Native from Spain to Greece but naturalized in just about every locale conquered by the Romans who revered it for its culinary and medicinal uses. One of the most vigorous culinary thymes.
Height: to 1 ft. Spread: to 1 ft.
Description: More compact growth and narrower leaves than English thyme but genetically quite similar. Of course the French will tell you this is a more refined version nonetheless.
Height: to 1 ft. Spread: to 1 ft.