What Herbs Should You Grow Next to Thyme?

A Mediterranean Garden

• The Mediterranean climate is characterized by cool, wet winters and warm, dry summers. The soil is rocky with excellent drainage. Rosemary, sweet bay, Greek oregano, winter savory and sage share thyme's growing preferences, and although basil prefers a bit more moisture and nutrients, it is also a good companion. The Mediterranean herbs develop more fragrance and have a stronger, more intense flavor when not fertilized.

A Thyme-Only Garden

• "There is never enough thyme" is the perfect sign for a thyme garden. Woolly thyme, lemon thyme and silver thyme create interesting color and texture contrast to regular common, English or French thymus vulgaris. Groundcover thymes such as Doone Valley and elfin look nice as border edgings and act as live mulch. Caraway thyme adds its strong scent to an already heady blend.

A Fairy Garden

• It is well acknowledged among the wise that thyme is the favorite bed of fairies. Lavender, or elf leaf, is another fairy haunt, as is rosemary, in whose flowers, it is said in Sicily, mothers nestle their fairy babies for a nap. Dainty violets are the choice of the fairy queen, while her court prefers the relative robustness of calendula blossoms. Oregano, chives and sage are all welcome additions to any fairy garden.

A Language of Flowers Garden

• In the language of flowers, thyme represents both courage and happiness. Medieval ladies often presented their chosen knight with a scarf embroidered with the figure of a bee hovering about a sprig of thyme. Courage is also represented by borage or garlic and happiness by marjoram or violets. Rosemary is well known for remembrance, while lemon balm offers sympathy and oregano signifies joy. Fennel is for flattery, basil sends best wishes and sweet bay announces that "I change but in death."