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Alpine RockeryHerbs - Culinary

Thymus 'Culinary Lemon'
  • RHS Plants for pollinators

lemon thyme

A mat-forming, lemon-scented evergreen perennial with mid green leaves and pale purple-pink flowers appearing in spring and summer

Synonyms
Thymus citriodorus 'Lemon'
Thymus citriodorus misapplied
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Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metres
Time to ultimate height
2–5 years
Ultimate spread
0.1–0.5 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drained
pH
Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Purple Pink Green
Summer Purple Pink Green
Autumn Green
Winter Green
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H5
Botanical details
Family
Lamiaceae
Native to the UK
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

Unresolved

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in well drained neutral to alkaline soil in full sun

Propagation

Sow seed in containers in a cold frame in spring. Insert semi-ripe cuttings in mid to late summer. Seperate rooted stem sections in spring and summer. Pot and grow on to re establish

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Gravel garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Rock garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Low Maintenance
  • Garden edging
Pruning

Prune after flowering to keep compact

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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