Rosemary and Thyme

You know you're famous when Simon and Garfunkel name a song after you! Rosemary traditionally symbolized remembrance, thyme symbolized activity, parsley symbolized festivity, and sage symbolized domestic virtue.

So the song Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme may or may not have anything to do with the language of these flowers.

Most people who decide to start an herb garden will certainly have these two herbs among their top choices. Both smell wonderful and have many culinary uses.

Indeed, these are easy plants to find in local garden centers and they are easy to be successful with. Both plants are evergreen to semi-evergreen woody perennial herbs.

You may even grow both of these plants year round in a container either on your deck or inside in a sunny window.

If you are growing rosemary in a container, it is recommended that you bring it inside if your in colder climates than zone 8.

Learn more about rosemary here.

Thyme is not so vulnerable outside during the winter months as rosemary is and may safely weather the colder months without bringing it indoors.

The most widely used culinary variety of thyme is the common thyme (T. vulgaris).

Some forms of thyme have no known culinary uses, but they look wonderful in the garden, have medicinal uses, and the honey bees absolutely love them! With scents such as lime, lemon, coconut, lavender, oregano, nutmeg, and caraway you have lots of room for experimentation and little excuse not to try them.

Rosemary also has it's share of varieties and flavors of both the upright and the prostrate (low growing, trailing) types.

With over three dozen varieties to choose from, the best way to decide which one you prefer is to take a whiff by rubbing the leaves between your fingers, or even take a little nibble of the plant before you buy it. It would be wise to ask the salesman where you are buying your rosemary for permission first.

Below are some wonderful books we have found on growing rosemary and thyme.



For More Information:

Learn more about growing herbs

Return to Home Page From Rosemary and Thyme