Thymus nitens - Thyme

Thymus nitens is commonly called Shiny Thyme due to the shine of its small evergreen foliage. Quite different from others, this species with a habit that is both upright and trailing prefers slightly acidic soils, tolerates soil moisture and less intense sunlight.  Excellent aromatic and medicinal plant appreciated in cooking for its powerful lemon aroma, this hardy and robust thyme with a dense cushion-like appearance works wonders in ornamental gardens where it can form attractive groundcovers, with its long flexible stems covered in numerous pink flowers in spring.

Native to Southern Europe, Thymus nitens is a botanical species belonging to the Lamiaceae family.  This shrub, woody at the base and on aged stems, has a habit that is both upright and prostrate, carried by trailing branches. At maturity, the plant will reach about 25 cm (10in) in height when in flower (sometimes less depending on growing conditions), spreading over more than 50 cm (20in). Its foliage consists of tiny, elongated-oval, fairly flat leaves, with a deep green colour and particularly shiny on both sides. When crushed, they release an interesting lemon scent. Flowering occurs in June-July depending on the climate. Very small tubular and bilabiate flowers in a tender pink-mauve colour, grouped in elongated spikes, bloom above the foliage, at the tips of the current year's shoots, attracting numerous pollinating insects. This plant releases compounds from its roots that inhibit the germination of other plants through allelopathy, which ultimately reduces the need for weeding.

Thymus nitens is decorative all year round, and proves to be hardy in well-drained soil in all regions. Its prostrate habit makes it an ideal plant to elegantly adorn a rock garden, the top of walls, or the edges of a stone staircase. It is also used as groundcover in front of shrub borders or along pathways, alone or mixed with other alpine shrubs such as rockroses, as well as with robust plants like Bergenia, perennial geraniums, valerians, alyssums, sedums, and aubrietas. It can of course be welcomed in the vegetable garden, among sages, hyssops, wild thyme, tarragon, savory, rosemary, and other aromatic plants.