GROUND COVER HERBS
Nothing is more alluring than the fragrance of herbs underfoot. Creating a carpet of herbs is a meaningful way to express your gardening skills. Herbal ground-covers are not only beautiful and fragrant – they are functional, as well. By replacing grass as ground-cover, herbs draw pollinating insects, demand less water, and beautify the landscape.
Why would you want to change ground covers? You may have problem areas where grass won’t grow. You may want to create barriers or define spaces between landscape areas. You may be tired of grooming your grass lawn. Whatever the reason, you should consider your soil type, and sun exposure as you decide what ground cover will be best for you. You may want to choose a small area to begin your ground cover experience. Soil preparation is just as important with ground covers as it is with other gardening adventures. Preparing a large area to receive new ground cover is expensive as well as time consuming. Ground covers should be enjoyed by the eye as well as the foot. They add interest, fragrance, and unity to your garden. Herein, we will discuss
four herbal ground-covers: THYME, GALLIUM, ADJUGA AND CHAMOMILE
THYME [Family: Labiateae] “A step in ‘thyme’…” Ah, yes – to step in thyme.
Literature is filled with references to thyme- hillsides, banks, and mounds of thyme; old sundials surrounded by symbolic Thyme.
THYME IN HISTORY The name Thymus is the Greek word for “strength.” Mediterranean in origin, the greatest number of thymes, including the commercial types from which the essential oil thymol is distilled, grow along mountainous shores of the Mediterranean in dry rocks under the burning sun. In Europe, small fragrant and aromatic thymes were symbols of energy and activity. It is said that thyme was in the hay and straw bed of Virgin Mary and the Christ Child. Wild thyme can be found in pastures, rocky promontories, and valleys – but also thrives along roadsides, in walks, and borders. Thyme’s vigorous growth is somethymes invasive! The ancients believed that the air was purified as well as perfumed by its pungent scent.
MEDICINAL USES Thymus vulgaris: strengthens the lungs; is a good remedy for sore throat and cough. Infusions are said to alleviate headache caused by intoxication, giddiness, and nightmares. Thyme is a digestive, relieves gas, and lower bowel discomforts. Thymol, a component in Thyme is antiseptic, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-helminthic. Thymol is the active ingredient in Listerine Antiseptic. Thyme is antimicrobial, antitussive, spasmolytic, and antioxidant. All Thymes contain some percentage of Thymol. “Thyme’s ‘deeply dredging’ quality opens the systems so that heat and toxins can be removed.”
[Matthew Wood]
Thyme Tea: Mix 3 Parts dried Thyme with 1 part each of Rosemary and Spearmint. Store in a tightly closed jar. Infuse 1 teaspoonful to 1 cup water – steep 10 minutes; serve hot. Excellent to calm nerves; ward off cold and fevers. Thyme vinegar: Remove 1/3 of the liquid from a quart of cider vinegar. Fill with thyme- stems and all. Store in a warm place for a month. Useful as a sun-tanning lotion in the summer, and as an insect repellent. Useful also as an astringent for insect bites and stings. Add honey to Thyme Vinegar to make Thyme Oxymel- useful for mouthwash and gargle. Thyme oil is a powerful antiseptic. Mainly used in a lotion or salve for fungus or burns. Thyme tincture is also antiseptic. Used for wound dressings, skin infections, and sore throat.
CULINARY USES Thyme tastes delicately green with a pungent clove aftertaste. It ranks as one of the “fines herbes” [thyme, parsley, chervil, and tarragon] of the French cuisine. Use in salads; chowders and stews; herbed butters and mayonnaise; flavored vinegars and mustards; and bean and lentil dishes. Use it with vegetables such as: tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, carrots, eggplant, parsnips, and leeks. Thyme is good with eggs, cheese, and rice. Its flavor blends well with lemon, garlic, and basil. Vary the variety and you can vary the flavor.
AROMATIC USES Dried thyme flowers have been used to preserve linens from insects. Lay thyme in your pantry to keep flour moths at bay. The leaves and flowering tops are used as an ingredient in sachet.
COSMETIC USES Thymol is used in making colognes, aftershave lotions, soaps, and detergents. Its antiseptic and stimulating properties make it useful in herbal lotions and baths.
COMPANION PLANTING
Thyme benefits eggplant, potatoes, and tomatoes. It repels cabbage worms and whiteflies.
SOIL REQUIREMENTS Thymes need sun and good drainage. They like neutral to sweet, or alkaline soil- so in acidic soils, it is a good idea to work lime into your thyme beds. Thymes may benefit from partial shade or indirect sunlight, as on a northwestern slope or one that is only exposed to afternoon sunlight. Plant thyme roots well down into the soil. In rock terraces, or between stones, make a pocket for the roots, water the soil well, and bury the plant until only 1/3 of it is exposed. This will help the root system to be established. In fall, trim to about 3 inches and cover for the first winter. A thick blanket of thyme seems as if it will exhibit a weeding problem; however, mats can usually be lifted back with care for the main root-which can go down 12 inches in good soil – and roots of weeds and grass extracted with a dandelion digger. There is no pleasanter gardening chore than removing weeds from a bed of thyme. What fragrance!
“To know true humility one must weed a bed of thyme.”
SPECIES...There are two well-known types of thyme:
1. Thymus vulgaris, common or culinary thyme. T. vulgaris is aromatic and flavorful- with upright bushy growth.
2. Thymus serpyllum, creeping thyme or “mother-of-thyme.” In this article, we will discuss the serpyllum, or creeping group. The T. serpyllum group is further divided into those of flat or creeping growth, (not over 3 inches) and those that form mats (to 6 inches while in flower.) Some plants are gold-leaved- while some are misty blue-green or gray-green; others between dark green and chartreuse. Spring-planted, these thymes will be ready to spread and cover by fall. The next year they will form walks or make lawns to replace grass, and can be walked upon without harm. Once established, this area will no longer require mowing, except perhaps once in the spring, and the mass of shining green leaves all summer and the purple blossoms from August to Thanksgiving will delight all who pass by. Your lawn will grow and perpetuate itself under trying conditions. Dark, shining green leaves vary in size and shape but all give off true thyme fragrance. Thymes grow well among rocks and along the edge of a terrace where they can work their way downhill. They spread by root and self-sown seedlings, and thrives any place- except in constantly wet and shaded areas. I will mention several favorites.
A strewing herb since medieval times, Galium is one of many species containing compounds which release coumarin, with its characteristic scent of “new-mown hay”- as the plant dries. If you’ve ever smelled it; you will recognize the scent of coumarin (a blood thinner) thereafter. Galium is a low-growing perennial that grows about 16 inches in length along the ground. It has characteristic four-sided stems with whorls of leaves about the stem; and grows on a creeping rhizome.
There are three varieties:
Ajuga is also known as bugleweed, blue bugle, sicklewort, carpet bugle, or carpenter’s herb, and contains about 40 species. [*One type of bugleweed - A. reptans - has some traditional medicinal uses, but it is easily confused with Lycopus virginicus, another bugleweed.*] Once a medicinal plant used for hemorrhage, it has fallen from use in favor of other, more effective herbs. However, it is bitter, aromatic and mildly astringent; and can be used in lotions, ointment, or poultices for bites and stings while gardening. The whole herb has been used to treat bleeding, high pulse rate, and used for veterinary treatments. Leaves are picked as required and simmered to make an infusion for both internal and external use.
Ajuga is a short, prostrate, hardy perennial, with 6 inch rosettes of coarse shining bronze, grey/green, or purple- spatula or spoon shaped leaves; and spires of blue, white, or rose flowers that bloom in midsummer. The species determines if the leaf is smooth, lobed, or slightly toothed. Ajuga forms dense, ground-hugging mats that spread freely by runners or stolens underground. Growers often use them as ground covers in gardens and lawns. Landscapers may use this plant for erosion control, but it spreads easily and may become invasive, if not thinned. Ajuga thrives in warm to cooler climates, in shade or full sun; in moist habitats. It flourishes beneath hedges if compost is added. Sow in spring or autumn in trays, and barely cover seed, as germination is slow and erratic. Invaluable as a ground cover; it will thrive where few other herbs will grow and may be used where grass is difficult to establish- as under trees and shrubs. Separate established roots and transplant divisions in spring or autumn. Solid beds of Ajuga need to be thinned every year.
There are four varieties:
Nothing is more alluring than the fragrance of herbs underfoot. Creating a carpet of herbs is a meaningful way to express your gardening skills. Herbal ground-covers are not only beautiful and fragrant – they are functional, as well. By replacing grass as ground-cover, herbs draw pollinating insects, demand less water, and beautify the landscape.
Why would you want to change ground covers? You may have problem areas where grass won’t grow. You may want to create barriers or define spaces between landscape areas. You may be tired of grooming your grass lawn. Whatever the reason, you should consider your soil type, and sun exposure as you decide what ground cover will be best for you. You may want to choose a small area to begin your ground cover experience. Soil preparation is just as important with ground covers as it is with other gardening adventures. Preparing a large area to receive new ground cover is expensive as well as time consuming. Ground covers should be enjoyed by the eye as well as the foot. They add interest, fragrance, and unity to your garden. Herein, we will discuss
four herbal ground-covers: THYME, GALLIUM, ADJUGA AND CHAMOMILE
THYME [Family: Labiateae] “A step in ‘thyme’…” Ah, yes – to step in thyme.
Literature is filled with references to thyme- hillsides, banks, and mounds of thyme; old sundials surrounded by symbolic Thyme.
THYME IN HISTORY The name Thymus is the Greek word for “strength.” Mediterranean in origin, the greatest number of thymes, including the commercial types from which the essential oil thymol is distilled, grow along mountainous shores of the Mediterranean in dry rocks under the burning sun. In Europe, small fragrant and aromatic thymes were symbols of energy and activity. It is said that thyme was in the hay and straw bed of Virgin Mary and the Christ Child. Wild thyme can be found in pastures, rocky promontories, and valleys – but also thrives along roadsides, in walks, and borders. Thyme’s vigorous growth is somethymes invasive! The ancients believed that the air was purified as well as perfumed by its pungent scent.
MEDICINAL USES Thymus vulgaris: strengthens the lungs; is a good remedy for sore throat and cough. Infusions are said to alleviate headache caused by intoxication, giddiness, and nightmares. Thyme is a digestive, relieves gas, and lower bowel discomforts. Thymol, a component in Thyme is antiseptic, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-helminthic. Thymol is the active ingredient in Listerine Antiseptic. Thyme is antimicrobial, antitussive, spasmolytic, and antioxidant. All Thymes contain some percentage of Thymol. “Thyme’s ‘deeply dredging’ quality opens the systems so that heat and toxins can be removed.”
[Matthew Wood]
Thyme Tea: Mix 3 Parts dried Thyme with 1 part each of Rosemary and Spearmint. Store in a tightly closed jar. Infuse 1 teaspoonful to 1 cup water – steep 10 minutes; serve hot. Excellent to calm nerves; ward off cold and fevers. Thyme vinegar: Remove 1/3 of the liquid from a quart of cider vinegar. Fill with thyme- stems and all. Store in a warm place for a month. Useful as a sun-tanning lotion in the summer, and as an insect repellent. Useful also as an astringent for insect bites and stings. Add honey to Thyme Vinegar to make Thyme Oxymel- useful for mouthwash and gargle. Thyme oil is a powerful antiseptic. Mainly used in a lotion or salve for fungus or burns. Thyme tincture is also antiseptic. Used for wound dressings, skin infections, and sore throat.
CULINARY USES Thyme tastes delicately green with a pungent clove aftertaste. It ranks as one of the “fines herbes” [thyme, parsley, chervil, and tarragon] of the French cuisine. Use in salads; chowders and stews; herbed butters and mayonnaise; flavored vinegars and mustards; and bean and lentil dishes. Use it with vegetables such as: tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, carrots, eggplant, parsnips, and leeks. Thyme is good with eggs, cheese, and rice. Its flavor blends well with lemon, garlic, and basil. Vary the variety and you can vary the flavor.
AROMATIC USES Dried thyme flowers have been used to preserve linens from insects. Lay thyme in your pantry to keep flour moths at bay. The leaves and flowering tops are used as an ingredient in sachet.
COSMETIC USES Thymol is used in making colognes, aftershave lotions, soaps, and detergents. Its antiseptic and stimulating properties make it useful in herbal lotions and baths.
COMPANION PLANTING
Thyme benefits eggplant, potatoes, and tomatoes. It repels cabbage worms and whiteflies.
SOIL REQUIREMENTS Thymes need sun and good drainage. They like neutral to sweet, or alkaline soil- so in acidic soils, it is a good idea to work lime into your thyme beds. Thymes may benefit from partial shade or indirect sunlight, as on a northwestern slope or one that is only exposed to afternoon sunlight. Plant thyme roots well down into the soil. In rock terraces, or between stones, make a pocket for the roots, water the soil well, and bury the plant until only 1/3 of it is exposed. This will help the root system to be established. In fall, trim to about 3 inches and cover for the first winter. A thick blanket of thyme seems as if it will exhibit a weeding problem; however, mats can usually be lifted back with care for the main root-which can go down 12 inches in good soil – and roots of weeds and grass extracted with a dandelion digger. There is no pleasanter gardening chore than removing weeds from a bed of thyme. What fragrance!
“To know true humility one must weed a bed of thyme.”
SPECIES...There are two well-known types of thyme:
1. Thymus vulgaris, common or culinary thyme. T. vulgaris is aromatic and flavorful- with upright bushy growth.
2. Thymus serpyllum, creeping thyme or “mother-of-thyme.” In this article, we will discuss the serpyllum, or creeping group. The T. serpyllum group is further divided into those of flat or creeping growth, (not over 3 inches) and those that form mats (to 6 inches while in flower.) Some plants are gold-leaved- while some are misty blue-green or gray-green; others between dark green and chartreuse. Spring-planted, these thymes will be ready to spread and cover by fall. The next year they will form walks or make lawns to replace grass, and can be walked upon without harm. Once established, this area will no longer require mowing, except perhaps once in the spring, and the mass of shining green leaves all summer and the purple blossoms from August to Thanksgiving will delight all who pass by. Your lawn will grow and perpetuate itself under trying conditions. Dark, shining green leaves vary in size and shape but all give off true thyme fragrance. Thymes grow well among rocks and along the edge of a terrace where they can work their way downhill. They spread by root and self-sown seedlings, and thrives any place- except in constantly wet and shaded areas. I will mention several favorites.
- T. serpyllum ‘albus’ -creeping thyme (white
flowers)
- T. s. argenteus –‘Silver lemon’- Growing to
six inches. Green leaves are variegated with silver. Not hardy in severe
winters.
- T. s. praecox articus ‘Purple Carpet Lemon’- Low; Mat-forming, with bright mauve-purple flowers. Lemon scent.
- T. s. ‘coccineus’ - popular crimson thyme -prostrate favorite for crimson-pink. Blossoms are brilliant magenta-pink. Leaves change to red in autumn. Dark green foliage.
- There is also
Woolly, Nutmeg, and Red Carpet Thyme.
A strewing herb since medieval times, Galium is one of many species containing compounds which release coumarin, with its characteristic scent of “new-mown hay”- as the plant dries. If you’ve ever smelled it; you will recognize the scent of coumarin (a blood thinner) thereafter. Galium is a low-growing perennial that grows about 16 inches in length along the ground. It has characteristic four-sided stems with whorls of leaves about the stem; and grows on a creeping rhizome.
There are three varieties:
- Galium odoratum
syn. Asperula odoratum- “Sweet
Woodruff”-pictured above- Native to Europe and Asia, naturalized in North America. Found on
loamy, nutrient-rich soils in mixed woodland. Grown in humus-rich soil in
partial shade. Propagation is easiest by division of runners in spring or
autumn. Masses of tubular, star-shaped, scented, white flowers in summer.
Rough-textured green lanceolate leaves in whorls about the stem at each joint.
Sweet Woodruff is a May Day Symbol. It is known for its use in Head Garlands
and in May Wine. The green plant has a mossy smell but if there is just one dry
leaf, you will sense all the sweetness of May. This is due again to the sweet
principle of coumarin, which has the fragrance of new-mown hay and is a
fixative for other odors. Sweet Woodruff can be grown from seed,
sown as soon as ripe in late summer. The whole (aerial) plant is used- cut when
in flower and dried. Sweet Woodruff makes an excellent ground cover and, as
such, is increasingly appreciated by gardeners and landscape architects. Grown
in a shady site is best- where soil is rich, moist, and acidic.
Gailum verum – ‘Ladies’ bedstraw’ – This member of the galium family has the characteristic four-sided stems and whorls of clinging, bristled leaves, but the flowers are bright-yellow and smell of honey. It too emits the sweet, coumarin scent when dry and was much used in the past as a mattress stuffing- hence the name. Has been called the “milk plant” and was used for centuries as an agent for curdling cheese and coloring it yellow. It contains the enzyme rennin.
Galium aparine – Goosegrass – ‘Cleavers’ This creeping, clinging plant looks like a troublesome weed; Its leaves covered with small, “cleaving” hairs. One of our wonderful “HERBS Underfoot.” A favorite medicinal HERB; Cleavers is a traditional springtime tonic. A great “lymph moving HERB”-Cleavers can be taken as an infusion of the fresh green parts, as pulped juice, or tinctured fresh. It helps eliminate toxins from the system. Its lymphatic action cleanses the system> Tonsillitis; and Cleanses the skin > psoriasis. A diuretic, Cleavers cleanses the urinary system and keeps small kidney stones from forming.
Galiums grow best in humus-rich soil in partial shade, so if you have a shady area that you’d rather not mow; this is your ground-cover!
Ajuga is also known as bugleweed, blue bugle, sicklewort, carpet bugle, or carpenter’s herb, and contains about 40 species. [*One type of bugleweed - A. reptans - has some traditional medicinal uses, but it is easily confused with Lycopus virginicus, another bugleweed.*] Once a medicinal plant used for hemorrhage, it has fallen from use in favor of other, more effective herbs. However, it is bitter, aromatic and mildly astringent; and can be used in lotions, ointment, or poultices for bites and stings while gardening. The whole herb has been used to treat bleeding, high pulse rate, and used for veterinary treatments. Leaves are picked as required and simmered to make an infusion for both internal and external use.
Ajuga is a short, prostrate, hardy perennial, with 6 inch rosettes of coarse shining bronze, grey/green, or purple- spatula or spoon shaped leaves; and spires of blue, white, or rose flowers that bloom in midsummer. The species determines if the leaf is smooth, lobed, or slightly toothed. Ajuga forms dense, ground-hugging mats that spread freely by runners or stolens underground. Growers often use them as ground covers in gardens and lawns. Landscapers may use this plant for erosion control, but it spreads easily and may become invasive, if not thinned. Ajuga thrives in warm to cooler climates, in shade or full sun; in moist habitats. It flourishes beneath hedges if compost is added. Sow in spring or autumn in trays, and barely cover seed, as germination is slow and erratic. Invaluable as a ground cover; it will thrive where few other herbs will grow and may be used where grass is difficult to establish- as under trees and shrubs. Separate established roots and transplant divisions in spring or autumn. Solid beds of Ajuga need to be thinned every year.
There are four varieties:
- Ajuga reptans – Hardy perennial 4-12 inches in
height, growing on a creeping rootstock- it has attractive blue flower spikes
in spring or early summer- growing from rosettes of basal leaves.
Cultivars of A. reptens are: - A. r. ‘atropurpurea’ has purple-bronze
leaves
- A. r. ‘multicolor’ has colorful variegated
foliage of pink, crimson, and cream with a hint of green
- A. r. ‘variegata’ has greyish-green leaves
with creamy margins. Blue flowers.
- A. ‘chamaepitys’ (ground pine, arthritic
ivy) is a related species to A. reptens. It is a short bushy annual with pine
scent, and 4-6 inch growth. This variety has red spotted flowers in summer.
Ajugas prefer a humus-rich, moisture retentive soil and partial shade. Plants do well in marshy soil and in the spring meadow; grow well in dry shade; and are fairly drought tolerant once established- though they can show distress in severe drought. Plants do not always ripen their seeds- they spread freely by runners; however, and soon form an extensive patch in suitable conditions. A number of forms have been selected for their ornamental value, several of them are variegated and are used especially as ground cover plants for dry shade.
A purple-leafed form, 'Atropurpurea' does well in full sun so long as the soil is not too dry. Ajuga is both a bee and a butterfly plant.
[*Note: Several sources state that North American bugle, bugleweed or gipsywort refers to Lycopus spp. *]
Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) [Asteraceae Family]
This form of Chamomile is a traditional ground cover and is cut like grass.
Medicinally, Chamomile contains azulene- a blue volatile oil- responsible for its medicinal qualities. Chamomile tea is the great relaxer. Primarily used for tension- both physical and emotional- Chamomile soothes mucous membranes and nerves. In the garden, Chamomile is a physician to other plants. (W.T. Fernie recounted that “Chamomile- dispersed throughout the garden- contributes to the health of the garden. In fact, if another plant is drooping/ apparently dying; in nine cases out of ten it will recover if you place an HERB of Chamomile near it.”) [Matthew Wood]
In summary, it is easy to see how helpful these herbal ground-covers could be to xeroscape your property. With conservation ever on our minds, it is a good idea to utilize plants that do not need water maintenance.
Having a lawn of herbs – what a luscious idea!