Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Winter 2012 - (Page 18)

PLANT PROFILE SPECIES: IN EACH ISSUE WE WILL PROFILE OF A GREEN ROOF OR WALL PLANT, EXPLORING ITS BIOLOGY, USES, AND PREFERENCES. THYMUS BY: MARGUERITE WELLS T here are dozens of species, hybrids and cultivars (cultivated varieties) of thyme, Thymus sp., many of which are used on green roofs and walls, so I’ll do my best to explore some of the possibilities and their best uses. All thymes are native to Eurasia, but some creeping thymes, especially T. serpyllum, have naturalized in some areas of North America. Thyme is a member of the Mint family (Lamiaceae), along with other aromatic herbs used in European cooking, such as rosemary, basil, oregano, lavender, sage, spearmint and many others. Medicinal Uses: Thymol is the active component of thyme plants, and unlike some medicinal plants whose effectiveness is debatable, thymol is a long-established and pretty conventional phenolic compound. Used by ancient Egyptians to preserve mummies and currently used in hand sanitizer and mouthwashes (Listerine being the most notable), thymol is antiseptic and anti-fungal. Culinary Uses: Almost every kitchen has dried thyme in the cupboard. For culinary use, there is no better species than Thymus vulgaris, the common garden variety with upright growth habit and smooth leaves. Common uses include seasoning omelettes, soups, stews, meats, and pasta dishes, among many others. Thyme is one of the main ingredients of the herb mix sold as ‘Italian Seasoning”. Growth habit: Thymes are perennials, and are either upright in habit, like the culinary variety, which grows to about a foot tall; or creeping, with a maximum height of a few inches. Some creep more than others; a few rarely send a tendril more than two inches off the ground, while others are a bit taller, three to four inches in dense carpet format. Every species and cultivar is different with respect to height, spread, and aggressiveness. Creeping types are commonly called for between pavers, to give an informal green edging on a walkway with a pleasant aroma when tread upon. For partial shade the best choice is wooly thyme, T. pseudolanuginosus, which has no appreciable scent. Thyme is a polite companion plant; it is not overly aggressive, and can mix nicely with other small groundcovers to provide give-and-take coverage no matter the weather, or can be used alone to make a dense carpet. It can also be used on green walls as an elegant cascading plant. It flowers every spring with flower color from white to purple, with flowers standing just a little taller than the foliage. Care and propagation: Thyme grows from seed or cuttings. Thymes are easy to divide- a single spreading plant can be dug and split into many smaller plants, since the tendrils root along the ground as they creep. For roofscape installation, plugs, 4' pots, or gallons are the common sizes to plant, and are the only way to propagate named varieties, which gener- LIVING ARCHITECTURE MONITOR / WINTER 2012 / 18

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Winter 2012

Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Winter 2012
Contents
From the Founder
Bookshelf
New Kid on the Green Roof
New Incentives for Green Roofs
On the Roof with Ben Flanner
Award Winning Green Roof and Wall Projects Represent!
Awards of Excellence Profiles
CitiesAlive 2012 – Building a Legacy of Outstanding Performance in Chicago!
Recognizing the Pioneer that was Malcolm Wells
Green roof and wall performance standards volunteers required!
Plant Profile: Thymus
Project Profile: Green Wall Maintenance Madness
GRP in Focus: Mary Ann Uhlmann
Project Profile: Healthy Haven for Community Members
A Positive Outlook for Urban Greening of Vacant Lots
A Green Space is a Clean Space
The Ambassador Program
Professional Calendar
New Corporate Members
GRHC Buyers Guide
Back to Planning’s Roots

Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Winter 2012