Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Asia, Europe
Southern Africa
Types
Elfin Thyme, Pink Chintz Thyme, Lime Thyme, White Moss Thyme, Lavender Thyme, Silver Needle Thyme
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Number of Varieties
Not Available
Habitat
Rocky areas
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
6-9
10-12
Sunset Zone
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Cushion/Mound-forming
Twisted/Contorted
Minimum Width
Not Available
Flower Color
Crimson, Lavender, Pink, White
Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Unknown
Not Available
Fruit Color
Not Available
Green, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Gray Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Gray Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Gray Green
Green
Leaf Shape
Tiny
Succulent
Plant Season
Summer
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Part sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Type of Soil
Loamy, Sandy
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Slightly Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Fall, Spring, Summer, Winter
Late Spring
Tolerances
Drought
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Requirements
Do not water frequently, Does not require lot of watering, Requires watering in the growing season, Water occasionally
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Ample Water
In Spring
Moderate
Less Watering
In Winter
Average Water
Less Watering
Soil pH
Neutral, Slightly Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loamy, Sandy
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Part sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Prune for shortening long shoots, Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune lower leaves, Requires extensive pruning
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
Pests and Diseases
Alternaria leaf blight, Aphids, Botrytis collar rot, Rhizoctonia Root Rot, Spider mites
Pests and diseases free
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Flower Petal Number
Not Available
Single
Fragrant Bark/Stem
Yes
No
Foliage Texture
Fine
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Attracts
Butterflies
Butterflies
Allergy
Diarrhea, Skin irritation
no allergic reactions
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Showy Purposes, Used for decorating walls, fences, gates, hedges, etc.
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, Skin Problems
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Medicinal Uses
Arthritis, Bronchitis, Chronic fatigue, Cough, Gastritis, Hair Loss, Insomnia, Kidney problems, Muscle Pain, Skin irritation, Snoring, Sore throat, Stomach pain, Swelling
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
Leaves, Stem
Other Uses
Air freshner, Cosmetics, Economic Purpose, Employed in herbal medicine, Oil is used in perfume, soaps, creams, etc., Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for fragrance
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Herb, Rock Garden
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
Thymus vulgaris
PORTULACARIA afra
Common Name
Thyme
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
In Hindi
अजवायन के फूल
Elephant Bush
In German
Thymian
Elephant Bush
In French
Thym
Elephant Bush
In Spanish
Tomillo
elefante Bush
In Greek
θυμάρι
ελέφαντας Μπους
In Portuguese
Tomilho
elefante de Bush
In Polish
Tymianek
Elephant Bush
In Latin
Thymum
bush elephant
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Embryophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Not Available
Caryophyllales
Family
Labiatae
Portulacaceae
Genus
Thymus
Portulacaria
Clade
Not Available
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
Not Available
Not Available
Subfamily
Not Available
Portulacarioideae
Number of Species
Not Available
Importance of Thyme and Elephant Bush
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Thyme and Elephant Bush. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Thyme and Elephant Bush as they differ in many characteristics such as their life, care, benefits, facts, etc. Every gardener must at least have the slightest clue about the plants he wants to plant in his garden. Compare their benefits, which differ in many ways like facts and uses. The medicinal use of Thyme is Arthritis, Bronchitis, Chronic fatigue, Cough, Gastritis, Hair Loss, Insomnia, Kidney problems, Muscle Pain, Skin irritation, Snoring, Sore throat, Stomach pain and Swelling whereas of Elephant Bush is Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation and Sore throat. Thyme has beauty benefits as follows: Not Available while Elephant Bush has beauty benefits as follows: Not Available.
Compare Facts of Thyme vs Elephant Bush
How to choose the best garden plant for your garden depending upon its facts? Here garden plant comparison will help you to solve this query. Compare the facts of Thyme vs Elephant Bush and know which one to choose. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. Allergic reactions of Thyme are Diarrhea and Skin irritation whereas of Elephant Bush have no allergic reactions respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Thyme has no showy fruits and Elephant Bush has no showy fruits. Also Thyme is flowering and Elephant Bush is not flowering . You can compare Thyme and Elephant Bush facts and facts of other plants too.