82 
February 1, 1913^ 
THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 
THYMES FOR THE ROCK 
GARDEN. 
Tli«. (ianU ti Thvnic rriiyniiis vulgaris) is 
i; well-known fragrant plant in all gardens, 
iM-ing niurli valii«*<l on aorount of lU- .strong 
aronmtii o<lour. It i.s nrorcU-d as having 
biHMi introdiicssl into niltivation alNiut the 
niKhlle of the dxtwnth c-entury, hut ivas 
irolmhly grown hero long ladoro that time, 
f i.^ a native of Southern Kurope, and is 
«Yi|Ms ially abiimlant in Spain, a country that 
said to bo pisMiliarlv favourable to the 
growth of all .sw<'>i't herlw. The genus eom- 
prisas several si>e<'itw, chielly found in the 
Modit«*rranean region and Central Asia, 
and the most univer.sal memlM'r of the 
genus being tho Wild Thyme (T. Serpyl- 
lum), which is found on <lry bank.s, ami in 
hilly pasture's throughout Kurope ami tem¬ 
perate Asia. It is very abundant in this 
w'oody, but prostrate and much branched, 
covered with light-green folia^. It is 
most at home on a rocky ledge in full sun, 
so that the stems arc pressed against the 
stones. Then it forms a den^ turf-like 
])lant, covertnl in summer with j^retty 
purplish flowers. Although coming from 
tho azores, it is quite hardy when planted 
on ro< ky le<lges. 
T. varnosus.- -This is a shrubby spwies of 
cHK-t habit from Spain, with fragrant 
greyish leaves, and white or pale-purple 
flowers. It is iis<‘ful as an evergreen for 
the rock garden. 
T. ChamRHlrys. — Hy many authorities 
this is considere<l merely a form of the 
Common Wild Thyme, but it differs in that 
the branches are all ascending from the 
roiit-stock, while the whorls of flowers are 
in axillary heads. In growth it is dwarf 
and neat,\vith light purple flowers. Seve- 
pale-purple flowers. From six to nine 
inches high, the plant is covered with 
flowers for the greater part of the summer 
while it possesses a powerful fragrance 
which suggested the specific name. Like 
the last, this is a recent acquisition, having 
been introduced to cultivation by Mrs. W 
H. Stansfield, of Southport, a few years 
ago. 
T. Serpylliim, the AVild Thyme, is a de¬ 
lightful native creeping plant, with slender 
much-branched stems that are woody at 
the base. It forms low dense tufts of 
herbage, from a few inches to several feet 
in diameter, covered in summer with its 
purple flowers. Of this there are many 
varieties grown, ranging from a pure 
white, T. S, var. albus, to T. S. var. pul- 
chellus, which is here illustrated, with rich 
rose-purple,, or almost crimson flowers. 
T. S. var. lannginosus is a form wdth leaves 
CMiuntry, forming iKmutiful <lense green 
car|>ets that arc a delight, Imth to tlu> sight 
and to the touch. AVhen the passing foot 
bruis<\s the leaves, tluw exude a sweet fra¬ 
grance that is ever a' .source of pleasure. 
In cultivation the carpeting thyme's will 
thrive anywhere in the .sun, especially in 
the crevices l>etwcH*n rcx'ks, on old walls, or 
in the angles of rough-made steps, while 
they comprise some of the most useful 
plants for growing l>etweeii the joints of 
stepping-stones or flagstone paths. 
There are several spwies of thymus in 
cultivation, but the majority bear a very 
great resemblance to each other in habit of 
growth and general appearancx'. When in 
favourable quarters they are rampant 
growers, .soon covering large areas. One 
of the most distinct is 
T. azoricus, a charming little plant from 
the Azores, which might 1 k' descrilKnl as a 
diminutive shrub. The stems are quite 
ral varieties of this are offered in cata 
logues; T, C. var. comosus having largei 
rounded leave's and darker-colourec 
flowers, while T. C. var. nummularius haj 
orc'ct spikes of bright rosy flowers. 
T. Herba Barona. The Corsican Thyme 
IS remarkable for a distinct cxlour. whicl 
resembles nothing more than caraway seed 
Jt IS of spreading habit, with twigg> 
ora lubes, somewhat more erect than the 
last. A rare plant, it is confined in it^ 
native habitats to the Island of Corsica, 
thvrlll common 
common in gardens, 
although plants have recently been intro¬ 
duced m cultivation. 
T. cKloratissimus.—The Bu.ssian Thyme 
IS admirably showTi in the accom 
paiijing iIliKstratioii. i.s one of the hand¬ 
somest mend>ers of the genns. It is of free 
spreading habit, with prostrate ascendi'na 
stems, terminating in long inflorescences of 
clothed in soft grey, woolly hairs, and very 
attractive with lilac flowers. Other varie¬ 
ties are: Coccineus, with crimson flowers; 
and splendens, with bright red ones. 
The members of the thyme family are 
piongst the easiest of all plants to niana^ 
in cultivation. They may be propagated 
by division in the autumn or spring, or 
raised from seeds, wdiich most of the diffe¬ 
rent kinds produce freely. The latter 
method, however, would not be advisable 
in the ca^ of bright-coloured varieties, 
which it is desired to increase. Cuttings 
root readily at any time during the sum¬ 
mer, if kept in a close frame for a short 
time. 
For the rook garden there are no more 
useful plants, as they may he used for 
covering stony banks ‘where little else wiH 
grow, and they are charming when seen m 
such masses as are showui in the illustra¬ 
tions herewith. W. !• 
