Thyme at the Shakespeare Garden

Thyme is mentioned in three of Shakespeare’s plays: Two Noble Kinsmen, Othello, and, most well-known, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. In the latter, it seems to be a favorite of the fairies as a resting place for their queen. A plant to “perfume the air most delightfully, not passed by as the rest, but being trodden upon and crushed” is a description by Sir Frances Bacon in his essay “On Gardens.” As with many of the plants in a Shakespeare Garden, one might imagine the Bard enjoying the fragrance of a thyme-covered hillside.

Thyme is indigenous to the Mediterranean regions and was cultivated for culinary, medicinal, and ornamental uses wherever it was introduced. Ancient Egyptians used it for embalming, while ancient Greeks burned it as incense. It was often placed beneath pillows, as it was believed to be an aid to sleep. And, considered a source of courage, sprigs of thyme were frequently given to knights and warriors before battles.  Thyme spread throughout Europe by the Romans, who used it to purify their rooms and flavor cheeses and liqueurs. Thus, thyme became a garden staple in England.

Still recognized for its medicinal properties, the chemical make-up of Thymus vulgaris (common Thyme) is the subject of serious research at well-respected universities, including the University of Iowa.

Thyme is a perennial evergreen herb belonging to the Lamiaceae family (mint).  It is a favorite pollinator and can be used as a ground cover.  It is a sun-loving herb and can tolerate both mediocre and dry soil, growing in zones 4 through 9.