Thymus sipyleus
A pink-purple thyme common on rocky and steppe slopes of Anatolia; it gives good nectar in early and mid summer and adds aroma to inland upland honeys.
- Nectar
- Good
- Pollen
- Low
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Height
- 0,1-0,3 m
- Life cycle
- Perennial
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Thymus sipyleus is a thyme named after Mount Spil near Manisa; it is common on rocky slopes, in steppe and under open pine forest from western Anatolia to central and eastern Anatolia. Pink-purple flower heads open at the tips of its creeping stems, which are woody at the base. As with thyme species in general, honey bees visit it frequently.
Flowering
Depending on altitude it flowers from June to August. Nectar secretion rises on hot, sunny days; in very dry years and on stony, shallow soils secretion may stop early.
Honey and pollen
It has no separate commercial honey; it is one of the sources of thyme aroma in highland and blossom honeys. Thyme-dominated honeys are usually amber in tone with a sharp aroma. Its pollen contribution is low.
Note for the beekeeper
It is one of the species collected heavily in commercial thyme harvesting; overharvesting can reduce bee forage locally. It is a valuable source for apiaries that migrate to the high pastures in early summer.