Description
Lamiaceae (family name)
Forage for Pollinators: The pale pink almost white small flowers form into clusters and are highly attractive to all bees; short-tongued Bumblebees and Honeybees, Long-tongued Bumblebees and Solitary bees including the blue mason bee (Osmia caerulescens)
Flowering time: May, June, July, August
Growing information: EVERGREEN PERENNIAL bushy, low-growing woody-based shrub with orange, scented, green-grey leaves. Grows to 0.5 m by 0.5 m. Prefers chalk, sand or loam, moist but well drained soil, in full sun (South or West facing). Likes to be in a sheltered position and is hardy to minus 15ºC, and is drought tolerant. Like Lavender and Rosemary, this species originated in the Mediterranean and will probably feel even more at home here as the climate warms, and continue to be a boon for all bees. Producing clusters of pale pink, bordering on white flowers, it is versatile and low maintenance and can be planted in herb gardens, borders, rockeries and on the edge of paths. As well as having a beautiful aroma, this is a great thyme to use in cooking and can be used in the same way as other culinary thymes and is particularly good with soups and stews or for herbal teas and chutneys.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia
