Description

Perennial herbs or low shrubs, leaves opposite, lanceolate and entire with Many pink tube-shaped flowers in termimal globe-shaped clusters. There are fifty species in the genus, mostly of European origin.

Uses

Associated with French and Creole cooking, especially meats, poultry and fish, garden thyme has a wide variety of uses, both dried and fresh. It is often used as a salad garnish, and can provide extra flavor to cooked vegetables

History and Lore

The word "thyme" is of Greek origin, referring to incense or other burnt offerings. Oil of thyme, thymol, has a long history as an antiseptic, and was used on the battlefield as recently as World War I.