Product description
Thyme 'Fragrant Orange' is a popular perennial herb, famously prized for its unique and powerful citrus fragrance. The primary part used for its culinary value is its tiny, aromatic leaves, which provide a remarkable flavour that is often described as a perfect mix of classic, earthy thyme and sweet orange peel. This distinct profile makes it an excellent choice for flavouring chicken, fish, and vegetable dishes, as well as for use in teas and marinades. The attractive, small pinkish-purple flowers are also edible and make a lovely, fragrant garnish.
When it comes to planting and maintenance, this is an easy-to-grow, low, mounding evergreen perennial, but it has very specific, non-negotiable requirements. It is extremely fussy about its light conditions and absolutely must have a location in full, direct sun to develop its best flavour and strong orange scent. The main requirement for it to grow well is providing it with soil that is exceptionally well-drained, as it strongly dislikes "wet feet" and is very drought-tolerant once established. As an added benefit to the garden, its attractive flowers are known to be a major favourite of bees.
Please Note: When purchasing plants please consider that each live item is unique and may therefore differ from the images shown, which are for illustration purposes only - The plant will be supplied in a growers pot.
Orange Thyme
Thyme 'Fragrant Orange'
Thyme 'Fragrant Orange'
Product description
Thyme 'Fragrant Orange' is a popular perennial herb, famously prized for its unique and powerful citrus fragrance. The primary part used for its culinary value is its tiny, aromatic leaves, which provide a remarkable flavour that is often described as a perfect mix of classic, earthy thyme and sweet orange peel. This distinct profile makes it an excellent choice for flavouring chicken, fish, and vegetable dishes, as well as for use in teas and marinades. The attractive, small pinkish-purple flowers are also edible and make a lovely, fragrant garnish.
When it comes to planting and maintenance, this is an easy-to-grow, low, mounding evergreen perennial, but it has very specific, non-negotiable requirements. It is extremely fussy about its light conditions and absolutely must have a location in full, direct sun to develop its best flavour and strong orange scent. The main requirement for it to grow well is providing it with soil that is exceptionally well-drained, as it strongly dislikes "wet feet" and is very drought-tolerant once established. As an added benefit to the garden, its attractive flowers are known to be a major favourite of bees.
Please Note: When purchasing plants please consider that each live item is unique and may therefore differ from the images shown, which are for illustration purposes only - The plant will be supplied in a growers pot.
Give your plants the best start
Garden Plant Size Guide
Plants in larger pots can be multiple years older than their smaller counterparts with more mature root systems and foliage. This makes them able to thrive as a full size plant in your garden quicker than smaller alternatives.
The most common size of pot that garden plants come in are 9cm/1L/3L/5L this is in reference to the diameter at the top of the pot.
9cm potted plants still remain the most popular cost effective option though, they just may take a little patience to allow them to grow into full maturity once planted in your garden.
Plant specs, care guide & tips
Key features
When to plant
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Planting and period of interest times are general guidelines and may vary based on your location and conditions. For best results, consult local gardening resources.
Instructions
Top Tip
Thyme 'Fragrant Orange' is one of the few herbs that works brilliantly in shortbread or biscuit recipes, where its citrus notes cut through the richness of the butter. When harvesting for drying, hang the bunches upside down in a paper bag to catch the tiny leaves which fall off easily as they dry.
How to Water
Thyme 'Fragrant Orange' prefers dry conditions to concentrate its essential oils, so water sparingly. Overwatering leads to leggy growth and a dilution of the citrus scent.
How to Plant
Select a hot, sunny location with poor, well-drained soil for Thyme 'Fragrant Orange' to concentrate the orange oils in the leaves. Add grit to the planting hole if the soil is heavy.
