Garden Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
Garden Thyme (Thymus vulgaris), Hardy evergreen, low growing herb Description: Bright purple to white flowers, borne in the leaf axils; cover the plant in late spring; aromatic foliage Habit: Spreading, mat-forming plant grows to 1 foot high and 3 feet or more wide Culture: Prefers full sun and well-drained garden loam Hardiness: USDA Zones 5 through 9 Attributes: Attracts bees and butterflies, Fragrant foliage, Edible, Drought tolerant, Deer resistantJefferson Documented Thyme has been grown in gardens since at least the time of the Assyrians, who recommended it for those suffering from nightmares or falling sickness. It was cultivated in early American gardens and Thomas Jefferson included Thyme in a 1794 list of "Objects for the Garden". In February 1820 his neighbor George Divers of Farmington sent Thyme to Jefferson, at his request. Although it is thought of as a perennial, Garden Thyme is a dwarf shrub, most often used as a culinary herb. Its flowers, borne in profusion, are attractive to bees and other pollinators.Garden Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) arrives in a 4" pot.