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Thymus herba-barona
  • RHS Plants for pollinators

caraway thyme

An attractive, low growing, mat forming, evergreen sub-shrub with branches of oval-lance shaped, dark green leaves that carry a distinctive caraway scent and loose clusters of small, pale pink flowers that appear in early-mid-summer

Synonyms
Thymus vulgaris Turkish

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Size
Ultimate height
Up to 10cm
Time to ultimate height
5–10 years
Ultimate spread
0.1–0.5 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Sand
Loam
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Neutral, Alkaline
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Green
Summer Pink Green
Autumn Green
Winter Green
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness
H5
Botanical details
Family
Lamiaceae
Native to GB / Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Matforming
Genus

Thymus are evergreen woody-based perennials, shrub or sub-shrubs with small aromatic leaves and terminal whorls of small, 2-lipped, tubular, purple, pink or white flowers in late spring or summer

Name status

Correct

Plant range
Corsica

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in well drained, alkaline to neutral soil in full sun. Suitable for rock garden or paving crevices where they release their fragrance when trodden on. See thyme cultivation for more information

Propagation

Propagate by seed, division or softwood or semi-ripe cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Gravel garden
  • Mediterranean climate plants
  • Patio and container plants
  • Rock garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Low Maintenance
  • Ground cover
Pruning

Cut back after flowering to maintain compactness

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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