We depend on donations from users of our database of over 8000 edible and useful plants to keep making it available free of charge and to further extend and improve it. In recent months donations are down, and we are spending more than we receive. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Thymus praecox arcticus - (E.Durand.)Jalas.

Common Name Wild Thyme
Family Lamiaceae or Labiatae
USDA hardiness 4-8
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Chalk downs, dry grassland, heaths, dunes, screes and amongst rocks[17].
Range Western Europe, including Britain, from Iceland and Norway to France and Spain.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (5 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Thymus praecox arcticus Wild Thyme


http://www.hear.org/starr/
Thymus praecox arcticus Wild Thyme
http://www.hear.org/starr/

 

Translate this page:

Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Thymus praecox arcticus is an evergreen Shrub growing to 0.1 m (0ft 4in) by 0.3 m (1ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in leaf all year, in flower from May to August, and the seeds ripen from July to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, flies, Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies).
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

T. arcticus. T. brittanicus. T. carniolicus. T. drucei. T. neglectus. T. picnotrichus. T. pseudolanu

Habitats

 Cultivated Beds; East Wall. In. South Wall. In. West Wall. In.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves
Edible Uses: Condiment  Tea

Leaves - raw in salads or added as a flavouring to cooked foods[183]. Retains its flavour well in long slow cooking. If the leaves are to be dried, the plants should be harvested in early and late summer just before the flowers open and the leaves should be dried quickly[200]. An aromatic tea is made from the leaves or dried flowers[183].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Anthelmintic  Antiseptic  Antispasmodic  Carminative  Deodorant  Diaphoretic  Disinfectant  Expectorant  
Sedative  Tonic

The leaves, and especially the essential oil contained in them, are anthelmintic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative, deodorant, diaphoretic, disinfectant, expectorant, sedative and tonic[4, 7, 21, 200, 238]. The plant can be used fresh at any time of the year, or it can be harvested as it comes into flower and either be distilled for the oil or dried for later use[238].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

Now available: PLANTS FOR YOUR FOOD FOREST: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens.

An important new book from PFAF. It focuses on the attributes of plants suitable for food forests, what each can contribute to a food forest ecosystem, including carbon sequestration, and the kinds of foods they yield. The book suggests that community and small-scale food forests can provide a real alternative to intensive industrialised agriculture, and help to combat the many inter-related environmental crises that threaten the very future of life on Earth.

Read More

FOOD FOREST PLANTS

Other Uses

Deodorant  Disinfectant  Essential  Fungicide  Repellent

An essential oil from the leaves is used in perfumery, soaps, medicinally etc[200]. It has fungicidal properties[171]. The dried flowers are used to repel moths from clothing[4].

Special Uses

Attracts Wildlife  Scented Plants

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Requires a light well-drained preferably calcareous soil in a sunny position[1, 200]. Succeeds in dry soils, tolerating drought once it is established[190]. Grows well between stepping stones on paths, tolerating light treading[183, 200]. Succeeds on walls. Thymes dislike wet conditions, especially in the winter. A layer of gravel on the soil around them will help protect the foliage from wet soils[238]. Hardy to about -15°c[200]. Closely related to T. serpyllum[11], this plant is the true native wild thyme in Britain[11]. It is a very polymorphic plant, there are a number of named forms[183]. This is a very difficult genus taxonomically, the species hybridize freely with each other and often intergrade into each other[1]. A good companion for most other plants[54], it makes a very good carpeting plant for the rockery or between paving stones[1]. The flowers are rich in nectar and are very attractive to honey bees[200].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.

Shop Now

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. Seed can also be sown in autumn in a greenhouse. Surface sow or barely cover the seed. Germination can be erratic. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in spring or autumn[200]. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are growing away well. Plant them out in the summer or the following spring. Cuttings of young shoots, 5 - 8cm with a heel, May/June in a frame[200]. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 8cm with a heel, July/August in a frame[200]. Layering.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Asa, Australia, Britain, Canada, Europe, Greenland, Iceland, North America, Switzerland,

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Thymus caespititiusCretan ThymeShrub0.1 6-9  LMNDM222
Thymus camphoratusCamphor ThymeShrub0.4 6-9  LMNDM022
Thymus capitatusHeaded Savory, ThymusShrub0.3 6-9  LMNDM222
Thymus cilicicusCilician ThymeShrub0.2 6-9  LMNDM122
Thymus herba-baronaCaraway ThymeShrub0.1 8-10 SLMNDM324
Thymus hirtus Shrub0.0 -  LMNDM222
Thymus mastichinaMastic ThymeShrub0.3 6-9  LMNDM222
Thymus pannonicusEurasian thymePerennial0.2 4-8  LMNDM222
Thymus praecoxMother of thyme, Creeping thyme, Woolly ThymeShrub0.1 5-8 MLMNDM223
Thymus pseudolanuginosusWoolly ThymeShrub0.1 3-9 MLMNDM222
Thymus pulegioidesBroad-Leaved Thyme, lemon thymeShrub0.2 4-8  LMNDM222
Thymus quinquecostatus Shrub0.1 4-8  LMNDM222
Thymus serpyllumWild ThymeShrub0.1 5-9 MLMNDM435
Thymus vulgarisCommon Thyme, Garden thyme, Wild ThymeShrub0.2 5-11 MLMNDM435
Thymus x citriodorusLemon Thyme, Creeping Lemon Thyme, Lemon-Scented ThymeShrub0.1 5-10 MLMNDM425
Thymus zygis Shrub0.3 6-9  LMNDM222

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Print Friendly and PDF

Expert comment

Author

(E.Durand.)Jalas.

Botanical References

1117200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Thymus praecox arcticus  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.