Spanish thyme

Coleus amboinicus

perennial1×0.8 mzone 11–12light shade

Profile

Family: Labiatae
Habit: perennial
Height: 1 m
Spread: 0.8 m
Growth: fast
Lifespan: 5 years
First yield: after 1 year
Hardiness: zone 11–12
Shade tolerance: light shade
Soil: Sand, Silt, Loam
Soil moisture: dry – very moist
pH: 5.5 – 7.5

evergreensuitable for hedgesscented

Flowering & harvest

	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Flowering

Times apply to the northern hemisphere in a temperate climate and shift with altitude and cultivar.

Uses

Edible3 of 10

Medicinal4 of 10

Other uses4 of 10

Edible: The fleshy leaves are often used as a culinary herb (Cuban oregano, Jamaican thyme) in Caribbean, Indian and African cuisine. They are used raw in salads or cooked in soups and stews.

Medicinal: Traditionally it is used for colds, coughs, indigestion and skin diseases.

Origin & habitat

Eastern and southern Africa

Coastal scrub, woodlands, rocky slopes

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