The serpillo (Thymus serpyllum) is a plant belonging to the family of Lamiaceae (Labiatae) and is also known as wild thyme or wild thyme.

The plant, given its properties, can be counted among the aromatic and officinal ones. It grows spontaneously and is very rustic, but can be easily grown in gardens, using appropriate biological techniques, exactly as it is done with the common thyme (Thymus vulgaris). In this article we analyze the botanical characteristics of the serpillo, the correct practices to grow it in a healthy way, the properties of the plant and, finally, its uses.

Wild thyme description

Serpillo (thymus serpyllum)
The snake plant has the appearance of a small shrub, with thin vertical roots. Characteristic are the main stems, partly creeping on the ground, which at each node emit adventitious roots from which vertical or lying-ascending stems, up to 20 cm high, depart. Overall, the plant develops a beautiful dense and branched bush, in ideal conditions a real carpet.
The stems have a quadrangular section and are abundantly pubescent, with the surface suffused with red. It is therefore a particularly pleasant plant from an ornamental point of view.

Snake leaves

The leaves of wild thyme are opposite, distant in the fertile branches, close together in the sterile ones. They vary from linear to oval and sub-round, however they are always a little spatulated, that is, they have the maximum width towards the apex which is rounded. At the base, they narrow into a short petiole often with long hairs. The surface of the leaflets is dotted with glands containing the precious essential oil Of thymol.

Flowers and fruits of serpillo

Serpillo in bloom
The wild thyme flowers are grouped in pseudoverticilli at the apex of the stems. The calyx is tubular, cylindrical-campanulate and ends in two lips. The upper is facing up and divided into 3 small lobes. The inferior is formed by two thin curved appendages. The corolla is also tubular and bilabiated, with the entire upper lip and the lower one divided into 3 oval lobes. The color of the flowers of the serpillo is usually pink or purple, unlike the common thyme, in which the flowers are whitish.
Flowering occurs in spring-summer, from May to August depending on the climatic zone, and is very persistent, as well as dense and intensely perfumed.
The fruit is made up of 4 ovoid achenes of brown color, placed at the bottom of the persistent glass.

Wild thyme honey

The flowering of wild thyme is very welcome to bees and other pollinating insects, due to the presence of pollen and nectar in the flowers. In some areas of Italy, beekeepers are able to produce excellent unifloral honey (which you find here for a taste).

How to grow the serpillo

The serpillo is an easy to grow plant, as it is particularly rustic. It grows spontaneously from the coastal strip to the alpine one, therefore it has no climatic limits. It definitely prefers sunny locations and well-drained soils, not particularly rich in organic matter. In nature, we find it on calcareous and dry soils, another index of rusticity.
Being a perennial plant, it is perfect to be grown on the edges of the vegetable garden, as an ornamental in the garden, in a flowerbed with other aromatic plants, such as Rosemary or the sage.

Reproduction

Starting to cultivate the serpillo is simple and can be done in several ways, namely: sowing, cuttingdivision of the tufts and transplanting of seedlings in pots.

Sowing of the serpillo

The sowing of wild thyme is done in early spring, when temperatures are constantly above 10-15 ° C. It is easy to find the seeds for sale in garden stores. Sowing takes place in seedbed or in small 10 cm diameter pots, using universal soil (70%) mixed with sand (30%).
Until budding, the mix of soil and sand must always be kept moist, but never soaked with water. Afterwards, the plant is moved to a 14 cm diameter pot, where it will grow until the following autumn or spring.

Cutting

Wild thyme cutting can be done in spring, before flowering, or in late summer, after flowering. It is sufficient to take portions of the stem with little lignification from the vegetative apexes.
To favor the emission of adventitious roots, the cutting can be kept for a few days in water and, once the first roots have sprung up, pour it into a small pot, with the soil mix seen for sowing. Also in this case, the definitive transplant will be done in the following autumn or spring, when the seedlings are well established.

Subdivision of the tufts

The division of the serpillo tufts is carried out in early spring. This technique is to be used when potted plants need to be moved to a larger container.
By dividing the head, a portion of the plant with the roots is “detached” and passed into another pot (or directly into the ground).

Planting

The best times to plant the snake in open ground are spring and the end of summer. To do this, you need to dig a hole slightly larger than the size of the pot. It is not worth adding particularly heavy fertilizers, just a little bit of compost you hate earthworm humusjust to amend the land.
Consider that a wild thyme plant develops luxuriantly over time and takes up space, therefore, at the time of transplanting, it is necessary to leave at least 50 cm of distance between one plant and another.

Cultural care

The cultural care to be devoted to the serpillo are few. In the first period, after planting, it is necessary to provide irrigation, if there is no natural rainfall. Very little water is enough, and water stagnation could create big problems.
Before the plant has developed a nice covering carpet, it pays off carry out periodic weedingwhere there were too many weeds.

The collection of the serpillo

Wild thyme
The flowering tips of the wild thyme are collected by cutting the stems. Already lignified basal parts should be avoided. The collected twigs are united in bundles and dried in the shade, in a ventilated place. Storage can take place in paper bags or glass jars.

Properties of wild thyme

The serpillo has not only aromatic, but also therapeutic properties. His main constituents are: essential oil (rich in thymol, carvacrol and linalool), bitter substances and tannins. It is particularly appreciated for its delicate aroma, to be used in the kitchen to flavor meat and fish dishes. Its beneficial properties are the following: eupeptic, carminative, antispasmodic, balsamic, toxic, expectorant, fluidifying of catarrhal secretion. It is an excellent sedative for whooping cough and asthma attacks. It also has antioxidant, antimicrobial, antitumor and cytotoxic activity.
For external use it is an excellent skin cleanser and disinfectant.

Serpillo-based household preparations

The best way to take advantage of the beneficial properties of the snake is preparing an infusion with flowered and dried tops.
For internal use, as a sedative of respiratory diseases, 2 g of dry substance are used in 100 ml of water, to be taken in 2-3 cups a day and sweetened with honey.
For external use, to soothe small sores or wounds, the infusion is prepared with 5 g of serpillo in 100 ml of water, then making compresses or washes in the affected parts.
This dosage is great for gargling and disinfecting mouth rinses.
In the specialty stores you will find different products based on wild thyme, from essential oil, to tinctures, up to herbal teas.

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Philip Owell

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