Can You Eat Wooly Thyme?

Can you eat wooly thyme? Woolly thyme—the wooliest of all thymes—forms a dense ground-covering mat of tiny, densely hairy leaves. The foliage has barely any fragrance and is

unsuitable for culinary use

.

Can wooly thyme be used in cooking?

Woolly thyme, however, is

not good to cook with

, but it makes a great ground cover and works well in planters.

Can creeping thyme be eaten?

Just like other thyme varieties,

creeping thyme is edible

with a flavor and aroma akin to mint when crushed or steeped for teas or tinctures. To harvest creeping thyme ground cover, either remove the leaves from the stems or dry them by snipping from the plant and hanging them upside down in a dark, well-aerated area.

Are all varieties of thyme edible?

All thymes (and there are over 350 species in the genus Thymus) are edible

and this includes varieties usually thought of as ornamental or medicinal. However, some are more popular in cooking than others.

What is wooly thyme good for?

Is wooly thyme the same as creeping thyme?

Woolly thyme (T. pseudolanuginosus) – Woolly thyme has a prostrate form with pubescent stems and leaves appear gray in color; good for rock gardens. Creeping thyme (T. praecox) – Creeping thyme, sometimes called mother-of-thyme, is mat-forming, grows only 2 to 3 inches (5-8 cm.)

Is thyme edible raw?

Both the leaves and the flowers are edible

. You can use the stems, but they might be a bit woody to eat.

Which is edible thyme?

There are only about half a dozen considered suitable for cooking. Out of this group, I find four to be most useful:

French thyme, lemon thyme, oregano-scented thyme, and caraway thyme

. French thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is the one that most people know. The plant grows into an upright bush 12 in. to 18 in.

What type of thyme is best for cooking?

Dozens of varieties are available, but those interested in the best culinary thymes have only a handful of choices. Those best for flavor, as well as ease of use, are the low-growing, shrubby ones known as

English, French, lemon, or winter thyme

.

How do you consume thyme?

You can also use dried thyme, but remember to strain the leaves from your drink to avoid unpleasant textures. For fresh leaves,

add several sprigs of thyme to a cup of boiling water and let steep for 5 to 8 minutes

. If any leaves fall off the sprigs and into your water, you can strain them before drinking.

Is wooly thyme invasive?

This plant is considered an invasive species in some habitats

, and tends to thrive in disturbed sites that are shady and poorly drained. Once established in a soil, creeping Charlie will spread quickly through aggressive stolons, forming mats that provide dense ground cover.

How can you tell creeping thyme?

1. Notice the height of the plant. The low-creeping types of thyme grow 4 to 6 inches high. …
2. Observe the leaves for their shape and color. …
3. Check the stems and branches. …
4. Pick a few leaves and rub them between your fingers. …
5. Look for flowers.

Is common thyme edible?

Both types are edible

, but creeping thymes are usually small and tedious to harvest and are therefore more valuable as ground covers. Garden thyme (Thymus vulgaris), also known as common, English, or French thyme, is most often used as a seasoning. The flavor of this hardy perennial is pungent and strong.

Is wooly thyme poisonous to dogs?

Thymes are another good ground cover that are

non-toxic

to dogs.

Is woolly thyme toxic to dogs?

Safe Herbs for Dogs

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) and creeping or wild thyme (Thymus serpyllum) are drought-tolerant evergreens that are

safe for dogs

and bloom in the spring and early summer.

Can you walk on wooly thyme?

There are very few ground covers that can be walked on

, and Walking Wooly

^TM

Thyme, the most silver-leaved of all thyme plants, is one of them. It’s a spectacular sight for the front of the border, cascading over a wall or as a ground cover between stepping stones. It survives nicely with little or no care.

Does wooly thyme stay green in winter?

Depending on your location,

creeping thyme will either remain evergreen or it will lose its leaves and some stems will die over the winter

. You don’t need to prune it, but to protect it as much as possible you can cover it with sand or gravel over the winter.

Is Thymus vulgaris edible?

Edibility:

The leaves are used fresh or dried to flavor soups, stews, sauces, meats, or fish

. It is a native Mediterranean herb that was cultivated as a culinary herb.

What does wooly thyme look like?

Woolly thyme—the wooliest of all thymes—forms

a dense ground-covering mat of tiny, densely hairy leaves

. The foliage has barely any fragrance and is unsuitable for culinary use. In summer, tiny pink tubular flowers appear. Plants grow to only one inch or so in height and spread to about a foot across.

Are thyme stems poisonous?

When you have an herb such as thyme, it works great to put whole sprigs in your recipe.

When you are cooking the dish some of the leaves may come off bu the stem stays intact and you can simply remove the stems when you are done

. Alternatively, you can pluck the leaves and add them to your dish.

Do you eat thyme stalks?

The stems of thyme are edible but are typically too woody to enjoy

. The leaves are really what you are after, but leaving the leaves attached to the stem saves prep time. You can just remove and discard the stem and any attached leaves after cooking.

How much thyme can you eat?

A serving of thyme is typically

two tablespoons when fresh or one teaspoon when dried

. Thyme is safe when used in normal amounts for cooking. However, if you plan to ingest it as an essential oil, you should bear in mind that it’s at a higher concentration in that form and may cause side effects.

What type of thyme is best for steak?

Caraway Thyme

(T.

Caraway thyme is a low-growing (6′′) thyme with narrow green leaves and light pink flowers. This variety of thyme was traditionally used to flavor barons of beef, a large top round roast.

Is winter thyme edible?

German Winter:

German winter thyme offers an excellent, classic culinary thyme flavor

. It has small green leaves but isn’t as hardy as some other types of thyme. Transparent Yellow: This variety of thyme has chartreuse foliage and is excellent for both culinary and ornamental uses.

What’s the difference between German thyme and English thyme?

English thyme is also referred to as garden thyme or common thyme.

German thyme has smaller, slightly rounded leaves than the other varieties, but the foliage is packed with lots of flavor

. German thyme is also called winter thyme because it is very cold hardy thymes.

Can thyme be used as tea?

Thyme tea is best known for relieving ailments such as colds, flu and tonsillitis

, which love to spoil our winters. Rich in phenol, a powerful antiseptic, thyme tea can also help soothe sore throats.

What happens if you eat too much thyme?

Commonly used for cooking, thyme is considered safe when used in normal food amounts. It also appears to be well-tolerated in dietary supplement forms. However, the overconsumption of thyme may cause

upset stomach, cramps, headaches, and dizziness

.

Is thyme good for your lungs?

Thyme

helps fight respiratory infections

and is a natural expectorant that serves as an antiseptic and helps expulse mucus. It’s also good for soothing coughs and fighting nasal congestion.

Can you walk on creeping thyme?

Is woolly thyme Evergreen?

Plant number: 1.515.

Woolly Thyme is easily divided in spring or early fall, and even small pieces will take root and grow.

Evergreen

.

Does red creeping thyme repel mosquitoes?

Thyme. Thyme, including red creeping thyme (shown),

possesses excellent mosquito-repelling properties

. The secret is to crush the leaves to release the volatile oils. You can simply place crushed stems around outdoor seating areas or rub the leaves on skin or clothing.

Does creeping thyme smell good?

How do you propagate wooly thyme?

Gently press the thyme cutting into moistened potting soil

. It will develop roots. You can also layer the thyme into place while it’s still attached to the parent plant. Look for those nodes, and gently remove leaves around the node.

Does creeping thyme attract bugs?

Creeping thyme is a vining plant that creates an excellent ground cover for rock and herb gardens. Even though they have different appearances all three can be used as culinary or medicinal herbs.

It attracts beneficial insects

.

What type of thyme is used for cooking?

Common thyme and lemon thyme

are the varieties most often used in cooking. Lemon thyme looks similar to common thyme but offers a distinctive lemon aroma and flavor. You may also encounter woolly thyme, creeping thyme, wild thyme, and elfin thyme—all of which are better suited for rock garden filler than culinary use.

What is the best culinary thyme?

Culinary thyme varieties with the best flavor are

narrow-leaf French, broadleaf English, lemon thyme and mother-of-thyme

, recommends Master Gardener Joyce Schillen of the Oregon State University Extension Service’s Jackson County office. The plants have the best flavor just before their flowers open.