Lemon thyme is an redolent herbaceous shaggy-haired shrub with maize - scented edible leave and small , tubular , purplish - pink blossom . The resilient subshrub , with its fragrant oval leaves , has many landscape gardening and culinary function . Its low increase , evergreen foliage , and resistance to drought and heat make it a great addition to any garden landscape . Additionally , you could harvest its folio to use in preparation .
How easy is it to grow lemon tree thyme in a front or backyard ? What are the introductory care requirements for this fragrant Mediterranean woody shrub ?
This identification care guide for lemon tree thyme answer these questions and more . In addition , at the end of the article , you will get helpful tips on resolving vulgar problemsgrowing gamboge thyme in your herb garden .
What is Lemon Thyme (Thymus citriodorus)?
Citrus limon thyme ( Thymus citriodorus ) is a humble growing evergreen inflorescence dwarf shrub with aromatic leaves
Lemon thyme is a small , thickset bush in the genusThymusand muckle familyLamiaceae . The redolent bush boasts cheerful chartreuse - tint evergreen plant foliage and an elegant citrusy odour when the leaves are smash . The lemony - earthy redolent herbaceous plant blooms in former summer with whorls of lavender - pink blossoms .
Also call citrus thyme , the herby bush grows 6 ” to 12 ” ( 15 – 30 cm ) grandiloquent and 12 ” to 18 ” ( 30 – 45 cm ) widely . The shrub is identified by its compact growth , rounded , bushy visual aspect , and promising unripened leaf which can sometimes have yellowish margins .
Lemon thyme is an attractiveshrub that perform well in full sunand wry to medium land . The long - bloom lilac - pink heyday appeal good insects such as ladybugs and hoverflies . In addition , pollinator like bee and butterflies are attracted to the fragrant flowers and on a regular basis feed on the efflorescence nectar .
Lemon thyme is classified as aherbaceous evergreen shrubsuitable for warm , dry climates . Due to its compact nature and low maturation , this citrus thyme variety is worthy for gardens of all sizes . It ’s perfect as an inch industrial plant along a driveway or growing in containers to smarten up up a terrace or decking arena .
Lemon thyme ( Thymus citriodorus ) should not be fox with low - growing , spreading shrub , also called lemon thyme(Thymuspulegioides).However , it is not rare in the botanical world for plants to have standardized common gens . This is why it ’s always a good approximation to mark the botanical name when choose plants to uprise in your garden landscape painting .
How to Care for Lemon Thyme
To care for lemon thyme , plant the shrub in full sun , where the soil drain well and is comparatively fertile . Citrus thyme thrive in dry status ; therefore , it only requires water every two weeks or so . There is no need to fertilise lemon thyme growing in the ground .
Lemon Thyme Flowers
lemon yellow thyme ( Thymus citriodorus ) flower
prime on lemon thyme shrubsare clusters of tiny lavender - pinko , mauve , or weak regal bloom . The colourful , cosmetic eatable heyday bloom in early summertime and persist until fall . Thesmall pinkish tubular flowersare an important nectar source for bee and butterfly . Like the plant life , stinker thyme prime have a citrusy odour .
Lemon Thyme Leaves
Lemon thyme foliation consists of tiny stinker - odoriferous foliage that are oval to lancet - forge . Many mixed bag of lemon thyme have dark green leave with coloured yellowish or creamy white margins . This evergreen plant foliage cave in lemon thyme marvellous landscaping value in herbaceous plant garden , borders , and containers .
Variegated Lemon Thyme Leaves
Variegated leave of lemon thyme
Some of the most eye - catching stinker thyme shrub have variegated leaf . Variegated lemon yellow thyme bush have chartreuse leaf with silver margins , and others have lime - scented green leaves with xanthous edges .
Varieties of variegate lemon thyme cultivars let in the pursuit :
Creeping Lemon Thyme (Thymus pulegioides)
fawn lemon thyme ( Thymus pulegioides ) has a spreading nature and is maturate as a ground natural covering plant
Creeping lemon thymeis a spreading midget shrub with reddish woody stalks , rose - pink tubular flowers , and dark green , sometimes variegated , leaf . Also called broad - leaved thyme , the pussyfoot shrub looks like wild thyme ( Thymus serpyllum ) . However , it has large , broad leaves on the woody shoot .
Creeping lemon thyme produce 2 ” to 10 ” ( 5 – 25 centimeter ) grandiloquent and up to 10 ” ( 25 atomic number 96 ) wide . The ground - hugging , horizontally disseminate shrub has uses in landscapes as ground cover plants for full Sunday , container planting , or develop in hang basket .
Lemon Thyme Uses in the Landscape
Lemon thyme is a versatile landscape gardening shrub . In the motion picture : motley lemon thyme shrub
Lemon thyme is a valuable landscaping herbaceous shrub . It has bushy , evergreen foliage , compact , upright growth , and a strong lemony scent . Additionally , it produce in most soils in full temperateness if the ground has fantabulous drainage . Additionally , the pinkish vasiform flowers add a splashing of color throughout the summer .
Therefore , lemon thyme is a great choice for utilisation in the landscape because of its attractive foliage , fragrant blooms , andlow maintenance requirements . you could farm the small aromatic bush as footing masking , edge , foundation planting , shrub borders , low - maturate hedges , or container works .
what is more , it ’s easy to propagate from cutting off , so you ’ll have plenitude of new plant life on bridge player when your current shrubs outgrow their distance .
In addition to its attractive visual entreaty , lemon thyme is ideal for planting in herbaceous plant gardens . you’re able to glean the leaves and use them in salads , lather , soups , and Mediterranean dishes . Also , the secure citrus taste from the leaves complements dishes that include tomato , garlic , and olive oil color .
Lemon Thyme as Ground Cover
It ’s promiscuous togrow lemon thyme as ground coverin sunny spots in your garden . Planted en masse , the low - farm shrub , with its odoriferous foliage , help to incubate bare bandage . However , its growth is mainly unsloped , which signify it is not the best choice for pass around over the ground .
Suppose you are looking for a flowering thyme variety with creeping growth . In that case , you could look for uncivilized thyme or Breckland thyme cultivars ( Thymus serpyllum ) .
Lemon Thyme Identification
Lemon thyme is identified by its small gloomy gullible or chartreuse leaf , clusters oftiny purple - pink cannular flowersin summertime , and compact , erect emergence . As a upshot , lemon yellow thyme looks like unconstipated thyme shrubs . But you’re able to tell the difference by crushing the leaves and enjoying its citrusy aromas .
Where to Plant Lemon Thyme in the Landscape
The honorable place to plant lemon thyme in the garden is a sunny spot with near drainage . Citrus thyme grows best in dry , arenaceous , rocky dirt andwill tolerate poor soilsand drouth . However , it ’s effective to note that gamboge thyme do poorly in moist undercoat and shade .
Lemon thyme is suitable for growing in USDA zones 6 through 9 . To grow well , the planting placement should get at least six hours of sunshine daily . And although fertile soil is preferred , the stalwart shrub will adapt to almost any type of ironic soil .
Lemon Thyme Propagation
The promiscuous way to propagate lemon thyme is by root stem cuttings or dividing the plant . It is potential to originate lemon thyme from source , but they can take a long meter to shoot .
Here are instructions to propagate lemon thyme shrub .
Growing Lemon Thyme From Seed
To maturate lemon thyme from seed , commence them in late winter or former spring .
First , fulfill some seed - starting pots with moist peat moss and put two or three seeds in each little sight . Then handle them with plastic wrap and put them in a gay smirch near a bright window . Mist the dirt day by day to keep it moist .
When lemon tree thyme seedlings appear , remove the plastic wrapper . Keep the soil moist . Transfer the thyme to private pots when the seedling have spring up to 3 ” ( 7.5 cm ) tall .
you may then transfer the tiny shrubs to the garden once they are 4 ” to 5 ” ( 10 – 12.5 cm ) grandiloquent and any threat of icing has passed .
Water the new - planted lemon thyme shrub for the first few calendar month to help institute the roots .
How to Plant Lemon Thyme Cuttings
To grow lemon yellow thyme shrub from cutting , take stem cutting 3 ” to 4 ” ( 7.5 – 10 cm ) from found plant in early bound . First , remove the leaves from the bottom half of the stem , entrust two or three at the end . Next , place the slip into a small slew arrest well - draining potting soil .
Ensure that the cutting is about 2 ” ( 5 curium ) in the soil and firm the soil around the stem . Then , irrigate the stem cutting exhaustively . After that , place the kitty in a shining locating but out of direct sunlight and keep the pot medium evenly moist .
After four to six weeks , you should note new leaves growing . When you see the new ontogenesis , you could transplant the lemon thyme bush cutting to the garden and mature in a sunny office .
Propagating Lemon Thyme Shrubs by Division
you could grow more lemon thyme plants in your garden by dividing an established , mature bush . you could divide Citrus limon thyme in early spring or later fall . Here is what you should do .
Dig up the plant life , secure you get all the root , and shake off excess soil . Next , it ’s necessary to develop apart the plant ’s root system into three or four smaller pieces . at last , take care of the source when untangling them to cause as slight harm as potential .
The next step is to plant your new shrubs in the gay part of your garden . Propagating lemon thyme by section is an excellent direction to establish anevergreen crushed hedge . engraft the shrubs as edging along a pathway , or grow in containers to decorate an entranceway
Growing Lemon Thyme in Pots
Potted lemon tree thyme
Lemon thyme is aminiature herbaceous evergreen shrubthat thrives in pots . The potting ground should be moderately fertile andamended with perlite for special drainage . Also , the Mary Jane — ideally a terracotta pot — should have several drain holes in the base to avail keep thepotting soilfrom becoming doughy .
To care for a potted lemon tree thyme plant , water the soil whenever the top 3 ” ( 7.5 cm ) is dry . Then good water it until the excess drains from the holes in the pot . Finally , keep the potted citrous fruit thyme shrub in a sunny location .
Lemon Thyme Care Guide
Lemon thyme is one of the well-to-do herbaceous plant to grow . Growing in passably wry , well - drained soil in a cheery slur is the most important care requirement for this citrus - sweet-scented herbaceous plant .
Here are some top tips when growing lemon thyme in a landscape painting .
How to Water Lemon Thyme
The only time you must irrigate established lemon thyme bush is when the priming is sear . you’re able to then water the grunge to good drench it , ensuring that the wet reaches the mysterious roots . In red-hot summers , you may only have to water lemon thyme once or twice a calendar month .
However , new plantings require veritable watering for about a couple of months to get established . After that , you may reduce the watering oftenness to whenever the top two inches of territory are dry . However , you rarely have to water a gamboge thyme shrub if you get occasional rainfall .
Lemon Thyme Temperature and Humidity
Lemon thyme perform right in warmer temperatures with modest humidness . These condition insure that the aromatic bush blooms throughout the summer , add a dada of purplish colors to your garden landscape . Also , strong , dry weather ensure the citrusy essential oils are free into the air , fulfil the garden with maize scents .
In cooler clime in zones 5 and 6 , lemon thyme goes dormant over winter . However , the shrubs typically retain their foliage , keep plenty of greenish colors in your yard from November through saltation .
If you ’re growing gamboge thyme indoors , keep the temperature between 65 ° farad and 85 ° F ( 18 ° C – 29 ° C ) . The shrubby herbs require moderate humidity indoors . Additionally , the thyme shrub thrives indoors when they get around five hour of sun daily .
Pruning Lemon Thyme Shrubs
Lemon thyme has minimal care requirements , include pruning . you may cut down back halt after flower to encourage new growing . However , most gardener leave the shrub to mature naturally .
Should You Fertilize Lemon Thyme?
Lemon thyme grow in the ground does n’t want fertilization . The flora adapts well to poor , nutritious - deficient soil . However , they perform best in average soil . Therefore , integrate a little organic compost can facilitate further overall plant wellness .
Problems Growing Lemon Thyme in the Garden
Lemon thyme is a tough , resilient shrub , and hefty plant are rarely sham by plague or diseases . However , sometimes , aphids or spider mites may become a nonaged nuisance . And if you water the bush too much , you may notice signs of fungal diseases .
Here are some result to common issues impress stinker thyme growth .
aphid : These pestis are more of a nuisance and wo n’t severely harm the growth of lemon thyme . They ’re small , light fleeceable bugs found on the underside of leaves . sign of aphids on plants can be foliage curling , yellowing , or wrinkled , brittle leaf .
Toget rid of aphidsfrom lemon thyme , give the shrub short sharp blasts with the garden hose to reposition the critters .
Spider mites : wanderer mites are grueling to spot on maize thyme shrubs . However , the adept news is that they wo n’t cause significant harm to your herbs . Signs of spider mites are tiny web - like strand hang from leaves .
You canget free of wanderer mitesthe same way as aphid — blast them with water supply from a hose .
Foliar diseases : Signs of fungal disease like yellow-bellied leaves , dieback , or inadequate development typically take place in warm , humid climates . This can also be a result of poor soil drain or overwatering .
To avoid tiresome maturation , let the soil dry out between watering . And , when you water the shrub occasionally , always water the ground thoroughly and fend off splash body of water on the leaves .
Also , post the upright stem can avail prevent leaves from come into contact with the reason and getting fungal or bacterial diseases .
If you notice signs of bunkum , then it ’s necessary to remove all affected stems and foliage and destroy them .
Harvesting and Preserving Lemon Thyme Leaves
The fourth dimension to harvest maize thyme leaves is in the morning or just after sunset . However , you could harvest the redolent farewell and stem at any sentence of year . All you have to do is snip a few inch of the stems just above a node .
To preserve your citrusy , herbal parting , bundle several twig of lemon thyme , splice them with string , and cling them in a dark , tender plaza to dry completely . Alternatively , you may oven - dry them at a low temperature for two to four hours .
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