Creeping Thyme Silver Queen

This cultivar (Thymus citriodorus) is particularly striking for its beautiful dark green leaves with a distinct white margin. It grows to a height of 20 to 30 cm and differs from common thyme with its strong and very pleasant lemon scent. Plus, during June and July, it blooms with a profusion of tiny pink flowers that will beautifully liven up any garden.

Don't worry at all! Silver Queen thyme is an incredibly low-maintenance plant that is classified as perfect for beginners. Once you transplant the seedling into a suitable sunny spot with well-draining soil, you barely have to take care of it. It will even forgive you if you occasionally forget to reach for the watering can.

On the contrary, 'Silver Queen' thyme is completely safe, fully edible, and non-toxic. You can grow it without any worries in a garden or on a terrace where small children play or where pets like dogs and cats roam freely. There is no danger to anyone whatsoever.

The ideal spacing is about 25 centimeters, which corresponds to approximately 16 plants per square meter. Maintaining this distance when transplanting seedlings is very important for proper air circulation around the plants. It acts as an excellent natural prevention against overheating and rotting of the lower leaves.

Thyme loves full sun and hot, dry places. It is an ideal plant for gravel beds, rock gardens, or the edges of herb spirals. Well-draining and rather sandy soil is essential for it. If you have heavy, clay soil in your garden, be sure to mix plenty of gravel or coarse sand into the planting hole for better drainage.

Silver Queen thyme is an ideal companion for other drought-tolerant and sun-loving herbs and perennials. It gets along great with lavender, rosemary, sage, oregano, as well as low-growing sedum and houseleek species. They complement each other perfectly both in terms of growing requirements and visually in gravel and pebble beds.

The best time to harvest leaves and stems for drying is just before flowering or at the very beginning of blooming, when the plant contains the highest concentration of fragrant essential oils. Ideally, harvest on a dry, sunny day around noon. Cut the fragrant stems and dry them tied in small bundles hung in an airy, shaded place.

A huge advantage of this herb is its incredible vitality and robust health. It is naturally completely free of diseases and does not suffer from any common pests. Moreover, its strong essential oils naturally repel most uninvited insect visitors, such as aphids, both from the plant itself and from its neighbors.

Although this thyme is classified in zone 7a and can withstand frosts down to -18 °C, its greatest enemy is winter waterlogging. If it rains in winter and snow melts into heavy, impermeable soil without drainage, the roots can easily rot. Protection from rain and moisture is much more important for this plant during winter than protection from the frost itself.

Very much so! Once it blooms with its pink flowers in June and July, it becomes literally a magnet for pollinators. It will attract a lot of bees, bumblebees, and butterflies to your garden, all of which will appreciate its rich nectar. This will help support biodiversity and the pollination of other crops in your area.

Yes, the entire plant is fully edible and completely safe. Thanks to its lemon aroma, it is excellent for flavoring summer lemonades, teas, or when roasting fish and poultry. It also stands out beautifully in light herb dressings or salads. Additionally, the fragrant stems can be used as a beautiful and aromatic garnish for dishes.