Spicy Orange Thyme

Thymus x ‘Spicy Orange’

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 4a-9b Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Evergreen Groundcover

Height or Length at Maturity: 2-3″

Width at Maturity: 18″ or more
Spacing: 12-15″ apart for groundcover

Growth Habit / Form: Dense Spreading Mat

Growth Rate: Moderate

Flower Color: Soft pink
Flower Type: Single in clusters

Flower Size: Small
Flowering Period: Summer, Early Fall

Fragrant Flowers: No

Foliage Color: Green

Fragrant Foliage: Yes

Berries: No

Sun Needs: Full to Mostly Sun

Water Needs: Average

Soil Type: Clay (Amend heavy clay to ensure good drainage), Loam, Sand, Silt

Soil Drainage: Damp to Moist but Well Drained

Soil pH: 6.0 – 7.0

Maintenance / Care: Low

Attracts: Visual Attention, Butterflies, Beneficial Pollinators

Resistances: Cold temperatutres (-30F / Zone 4)Deer, Disease, Heat, Insect, Moderate Foot Traffic

Description

Useful for culinary purposes and in the ornamental landscape, the Spicy Orange Thyme has unique needle-shaped green leaves that when crushed have a strong spicy orange scent. Abundant clusters of soft-pink flowers appear in summer that are attractive to butterflies and beneficial pollinators. Growing to only 2 to 3 inches tall and 18 inches or more wide, and tolerating moderate foot traffic, this thyme is useful for planting between stepping stones and bordering sunny paths, walkways and garden beds. The fresh or dried leaves can be used to season poultry, fish and pork or in sauces, soups and vinegar.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing 2 to 3 inches tall and spreading to 18 inches wide or more over time, Spicy Orange Thyme tolerates foot traffic well so is ideal for use between stepping stones, as a groundcover or underplanting for shrubs, roses and small trees such as Japanese maples, or to line a path or walkway. Also serves nicely as a soil cover in container gardens. A fine addition to herb gardens, rock gardens, pink theme gardens, and the Xeriscape (low water needs when established).

Suggested Spacing: 15 to 18 inches for mass planting or solid borders

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Growing Preferences

Spicy Orange Thyme is easy to grow in a light, damp to moist dwell-drained soil of average fertility and full to mostly sun. A little shade is okay. Will tolerate rainy periods but constantly soggy or wet soil is a killer. So make sure to plant in a well-drained site and don’t water it too much!

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Harvest the leaves of Spicy Orange Thyme as needed before summer flowering. For best flavor, harvest in the early morning hours. To dry, hang cut stems upside down in small bunches in a warm, dry, dark room. Once the leaves have dried remove them whole and store in airtight containers. Wait to crush the leaves until you are ready to use them. The entire plant may be harvested by cutting plant leaving about 2 inches above the ground. The plant will usually recover before the end of the season; however, it may not be as winter hardy. If you are using this thyme for ornamental purposes only, we suggest cutting plants back by half their size after flowering.

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