Thymus fragrantissimus Seeds - Thyme

The 'Orangelo' Thyme or Thymus fragrantissimus is a classic, traditional thyme, enhanced by a citrus fragrance and flavour that is quite similar to orange. Like the common thyme, it has numerous culinary uses, where it adds flavour to fish dishes, salads, cheeses, and sauces. With its interesting properties, it is also used to make highly aromatic infusions to relieve digestive and respiratory ailments. Sow from February to April.

Native to Western and Southern Europe, where it is sometimes found in the wild, Thyme is a perennial undershrub that belongs to the Lamiaceae family. It is hardy and forms small, fragrant, evergreen clumps in winter. This nectar-rich plant produces pretty small flowers in summer that range in colour from white to mauve pink, depending on the variety. Its leaves are highly appreciated in cooking. Used alone or in a bouquet garni, combined with Bay leaf, Parsley, and Rosemary, Thyme leaves add flavour to stews, sauces, marinades, and court-bouillons. They can also be used in infusions, known for their ability to relieve digestive ailments.

Thyme is a hardy and easy-to-grow herb that thrives in poor, light, and even rocky, well-drained soils. If your soil is rather damp and clayey, we recommend growing it in a pot where it will thrive.

Harvest: Thyme can be harvested throughout the year, as its leaves are evergreen. Since it is necessary to prune it to maintain a beautiful compact shape, take advantage of this to stock up for the winter months!

Storage: Thyme is traditionally preserved by drying. This is a simple and quick process that you can replace with freezing if it seems more convenient to you.

The gardener's tip: In the garden, mix different types of plants by placing some herbs like Thyme in the middle of your perennial flower beds or even in rockeries. It looks beautiful, and the sometimes powerful scents of aromatic plants often repel insects that might attack more sensitive plants, such as certain rose bushes.