Satureja thymbra, commonly known as savory of Crete, whorled savory, pink savory, and Roman hyssop (Arabic: za'atar rumi; za'atar franji), is a perennial-green dwarf shrub of the family Lamiaceae, having strongly scented leaves, endemic to Libya, southeastern Europe from Sardinia to Turkey; Cyprus, Lebanon and Israel (Palestine). The plant is noted for its dark-green leaves which grow on numerous, closely compacted branches, reaching a height of 20–50 cm. The plant bears pink to purple flowers that blossom between March and June.
Thyme-leaved savory is fairly resistant to disease and typically does not suffer from many illnesses. Still, it can be affected by pests and diseases present in its environment. Such infections are generally mild. Regarding care, this plant needs a moderate amount of maintenance. It should be pruned regularly to preserve a neat appearance and encourage healthy growth. Applying fertilizer can also support increased flowering. Thyme-leaved savory is appropriate for anyone with outdoor areas like a garden or patio and does not demand extensive gardening experience. It may need extra attention if cultivated indoors.
How to keep Satureja Thymbra.
Light
Thyme-leaved savory is a perennial herbaceous plant that prefers sunny conditions and comes from open habitats, commonly growing in meadows and grasslands. It favors full sun but will also tolerate partial sun.
Temperature
Thyme-leaved savory is well adapted to temperature, able to tolerate higher heat and wide temperature fluctuations. In hot conditions, care should be taken with watering and suitable shading should be provided to prevent sunburn. However, it is relatively intolerant of low temperatures. Although it can endure some cold, excessively low temperatures can cause frost damage.
Fertilizer
The best time to fertilize a Thyme-leaved savory is in early spring, when it is coming out of dormancy and beginning active growth. Fertilization supplies essential nutrients needed for healthy growth. Although Thyme-leaved savory has relatively low fertilizer needs, annual fertilization can improve its survival and encourage better, longer-lasting flowers.
Botanical profile.
- Plant Type
- Herb
- Life Cycle
- Perennial
- Genus
- Satureja
- Family
- Lamiaceae
- Hardiness Zone
- 7-10
- Mature Height
- 40 cm
- Mature Spread
- 40 cm
- Leaf Color
- Green, Dark Green
- Leaf Type
- Semi-evergreen
- Flower Color
- Pink, Lavender
- Flower Size
- 0.51 cm to 0.76 cm
- Bloom Time
- Mid spring, Late spring, Early summer
- Planting Time
- Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Harvest Time
- Summer
- Native Area
- Libya, Turkey, Syria, Italy, Cyprus, Greece, Lebanon
Other names.
