Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Herbs
  
Fern
  
Origin
Asia, Europe
  
Australia
  
Types
Elfin Thyme, Pink Chintz Thyme, Lime Thyme, White Moss Thyme, Lavender Thyme, Silver Needle Thyme
  
Polystichum solitarium
  
Habitat
Rocky areas
  
Shady Edge, Woodland Garden Dappled Shade
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
6-9
  
9-11
  
AHS Heat Zone
9-1
  
12-1
  
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
  
H1, H2
  
Habit
Cushion/Mound-forming
  
Arching/Fountain-shaped
  
Plant Size
  
  
Minimum Width
Not Available
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Crimson, Lavender, Pink, White
  
Not Available
  
Flower Color Modifier
Unknown
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Gray Green
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Gray Green
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Gray Green
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Tiny
  
Saw-tooth like
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Summer
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Part sun
  
Full Shade, Partial shade
  
Growth Rate
Medium
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loamy, Sandy
  
Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Slightly Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Average
  
Bloom Time
Fall, Spring, Summer, Winter
  
All year
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Drought, Dry Conditions, Light Frost, Shade areas, Variety of soil types
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
  
Ground
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
  
Divison, From Rhizomes, Spores
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Low
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Do not water frequently, Does not require lot of watering, Requires watering in the growing season, Water occasionally
  
when new, water every week
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Neutral, Slightly Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Loamy, Sandy
  
Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Average
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Part sun
  
Full Shade, Partial shade
  
Pruning
Prune for shortening long shoots, Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune lower leaves, Requires extensive pruning
  
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Alternaria leaf blight, Aphids, Botrytis collar rot, Rhizoctonia Root Rot, Spider mites
  
Pests and diseases free
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought, Dry Conditions, Light Frost, Shade areas, Variety of soil types
  
Flowers
Yes
  
None
  
Flower Petal Number
Not Available
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
Yes
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Fine
  
Coarse
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
Yes
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
Sometimes
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
No
  
Attracts
Butterflies
  
Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
  
Allergy
Diarrhea, Skin irritation
  
Not Available
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Showy Purposes, Used for decorating walls, fences, gates, hedges, etc.
  
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Good for skin
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification, Food for animals
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Arthritis, Bronchitis, Chronic fatigue, Cough, Gastritis, Hair Loss, Insomnia, Kidney problems, Muscle Pain, Skin irritation, Snoring, Sore throat, Stomach pain, Swelling
  
Poultice, Sore throat, Tonsillitis
  
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
  
Leaves, Root, 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
  
Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Herb, Rock Garden
  
Bedding Plant, Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Tropical, Water Gardens
  
Botanical Name
Thymus vulgaris
  
Polystichum munitum
  
Common Name
Thyme
  
Swordfern, western swordfern
  
In Hindi
अजवायन के फूल
  
Swordfern
  
In German
Thymian
  
Sword Fern
  
In French
Thym
  
Epée Fern
  
In Spanish
Tomillo
  
helecho espada
  
In Greek
θυμάρι
  
ξίφος φτέρη
  
In Portuguese
Tomilho
  
espada Fern
  
In Polish
Tymianek
  
Miecz Fern
  
In Latin
Thymum
  
Fern gladio
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Pteridophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Filicopsida
  
Order
Not Available
  
Polypodiales
  
Family
Labiatae
  
Dryopteridaceae
  
Genus
Thymus
  
Polystichum
  
Clade
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Importance of Thyme and Swordfern
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Thyme and Swordfern. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Thyme and Swordfern 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 Swordfern is Poultice, Sore throat and Tonsillitis. Thyme has beauty benefits as follows: Not Available while Swordfern has beauty benefits as follows: Not Available.
Compare Facts of Thyme vs Swordfern
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 Swordfern 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 Swordfern have Not Available respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Thyme has no showy fruits and Swordfern has no showy fruits. Also Thyme is flowering and Swordfern is not flowering . You can compare Thyme and Swordfern facts and facts of other plants too.