Creeping thyme is a low-maintenance ground cover plant that produces pink flowers and is used in landscaping. It can also be used in cooking and has a long history of medicinal uses.
Creeping thyme is a scented native herb often used to add color to a garden or flavor to a recipe. Originally found growing in Mediterranean Europe, its versatility ensured it would be exported, and now it is found growing all over the world. Unlike common thyme, which grows upright and is about 12 inches (30.5 cm) tall, creeping thyme stays low to the ground, typically 2 to 4 inches (5.1 to 10.2 cm) tall. Instead of growing straight up, it spreads to cover an area of 18 inches (45.7 cm) or even more in some cases, making it an ideal choice for ground cover.
As a ground cover plant, creeping thyme is a hardy, low-maintenance choice, capable of thriving in a variety of climates and with varying degrees of sunlight. It stays green all year and produces pink flowers that bloom during the summer. Creeping thyme’s low profile means it requires no cutting or trimming, and due to its ability to survive regular foot traffic, it is often used to fill the space between slabs on a walkway. It is also a common feature in landscaping, often placed in the foreground or filling in the spaces between larger plants.
Although less commonly used in cooking than common thyme, creeping thyme is an herb and can be used in food preparation. Thyme can be used fresh or dried to season a wide variety of foods and is an essential element of cooking styles around the world. Bees also like thyme, and honey produced from thyme nectar has a distinctive flavor.
Thyme is also one of the earliest recorded herbal remedies, figuring heavily in lore, myth, and folklore. The ancient Egyptians used the herb to cure headaches and nightmares as early as 1600 B.C. C. The ancient Greeks believed that thyme had purifying properties and used it in their temples. Some legends suggested a link between thyme and the world of fairies, a link that William Shakespeare included in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
In the modern age, thyme retains its medicinal reputation. As an antiseptic, creeping thyme can be made into a tea to treat sore throats or used topically to disinfect cuts and scrapes. Thyme also has expectorant properties, making it useful for treating congestion. It has also been used to treat whooping cough, colic, and bronchitis. Thyme is also said to relieve flatulence and indigestion. Of course, professional medical advice should be sought before treating any serious condition.
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