Caraway Thyme

Caraway Thyme, Thymus herba-barona, is a distinctive creeping thyme native to Corsica and Sardinia and named for its strong caraway scent and flavor, unusual among thymes. Historically it was rubbed on barons of beef, giving rise to its species name herba-barona. It forms a low, spreading mat 2 to 5 inches tall of tiny dark green leaves and works both as a fragrant ornamental groundcover and a culinary herb, its warm caraway-thyme flavor suiting roasts, vegetables, and breads. In summer it bears rose-pink flowers loved by bees. Hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9, it thrives in full sun and well-drained soil and tolerates drought once established. Caraway Thyme is propagated by cuttings or division to preserve its unusual aroma. It is valued as a dual-purpose plant offering both a novel flavor and an attractive, aromatic groundcover.