While lemon thyme may look like a regular thyme plant, when the leaves are crushed it releases a beautiful and subtle lemony fragrance. often grown for its use in the kitchen, it also makes an excellent ground cover to use in the garden or between paths – allowing that wonderful aroma to be released whenever someone walks past.
In the kitchen
A natural antiseptic, lemon thyme has a wealth of natural herbal benefits for the body, including being a great hangover cure when drunk as a tea infusion. However, it’s mainly used like regular thyme in cooking, but with an added lemony zing – ideal for Italian and fish dishes. Give your Easter lamb an extra layer by using lemon thyme in your recipe.
How to grow
In the garden, the plant likes full sun and well-drained soil. Like other herbs, the leaves are packed with flavour in the morning when the essential oils are most abundant, so it’s best to pick at this time. It can grow to a height of 20cm – 30cm and produces pink flowers in the summer which are great bee attractors.
Did you know?
When crushed, the oils in lemon thyme act as a natural mosquito repellent – perfect for balmy evenings outside or when honing green-fingered skills in the garden!
