Again, check RICHTERS for these plants. They have about 30 different thymes and also cuban oregano. Doesn't anyone even read the first page of posts anymore??

Here is a link that might be useful: Richters

What do you mean by the first page of posts?

Thanks for the link. I hope it wasn't too much of a bother for you to answer me :-)

The plant is known my many names - apart from the ones you mention, it's also called 3-in-one, 5-in-one, even 10-in-one, Puerto Rican oregano, Queen of Herbs, Allherb, Broad-leafed Thyme, Spanish Thyme, Spanish Sage and numerous other names. I call it Mother of Herbs. Another botanical name for it is Coleus amboinicus.

It is NOT a thyme, or a borage, or an oregano or a sage or any of the above! The name derives from the assortment of herby smells you get from the leaves. It's the herb you use when you don't know what herb to use.

It grows like a weed. Just break off a piece and stick it in the dirt, and away it'll go. It's not a bad groundcover. It will spread quickly, but doesn't become a thug because it's easy enough to control it just by pulling bits of it out.

It makes a good rockery plant. It likes full sun, well-drained soil, and can tolerate dry conditions. It's an excellent herb for the beginner because it almost never lets you down! I reckon it's as tough as nails.

Any nursery should be able to order a plant in for you on request. There's a very pretty variegated version, too. Why not post a request for a cutting from the Exchanges forum?

As for your question about 'the first page of posts'. You will notice, if you scroll down to the end of the page on which you see the various threads in GW, a list of numbers. These are links to previous pages of threads. Only one page is shown at a time, and these are the more recent posts, or earlier posts that have recently been accessed ('bumped up to the start again'), but by clicking on those page numbers, you can access thousands of earlier posts.

Here is a link that might be useful: exchanges forum

When you come to this Herbs FORUM, there are PAGES. The page 1 of this forum containes the most recent titles and posts. IT was with this in mind that I mentioned the first page, as there was just another person a few hours before you who asked about finding Mint, so I posted a link. Finding Thyme isn't that far off. Spending just a few minutes and heading to a posted link like Richters, can give anyone who is looking for a specific herb to grow, a good place to see if that company has this plant. Thanks to another long timer here, who has also been helpful in defining 'first page of posts;..

Problem is, Ksrogers- the herb the original poster inquired about isn't, as Daisy (very helpfully) pointed out, a Thyme, Sage or Oregano! A bit harder to find if you aren't able to identify it. If you don't want to respond to a post, then don't. No need to be rude!

Not rude, but maybe some newbees will see a few of the remarks and do the RIGHT thing and simply search for a few moments. Searching saves quite a lot of effort and time for both the poster and the replier. A search here, searches ALL THE POSTS and brings up the key words within each thread. If you type in Thyme, you will see hundreds of posts, and the threads shown are DATED so you even have a reference point, and can bring up an thread that was just posted, and ask that same exact question there. Spoon feeding is for babies. I was able to easily find the herbs listed in the post, simply by going to a link for Richters that was posted in one of the search threads.. How about using ones brain a little..

You were rude, and it's about time for you to leave this topic. As the other poster said, if you don't want to respond, just move on. Why act as if this is your forum?

Mint was not what I was after.

Daisy, thanks for the info. I couldn't get into the exchange forum.

A SOURCE FOR AN HERB was the basic question.. Simple answer to a simple question that has been repeated, whther is thyme, mint, oregano, rosemary, or even French Tarragon.. Rudeness tends to make some people 'think' and maybe 'READ' before they ask a simple question thats already had many answers.. No its not my forum, nor is it yours.. You wanted to know, and so I told you. If you just wanted to know 'how' it will grow, the original post didn't really mention that. I got the impression that you wanted to find someplace that might have these plants. Richters carries a LOT of herbs, even though they are in Canada, I am sure that whatever they offer will grow almost anyplace in the lower 48.

The link I provided didn't work? Then try clicking on Exchanges link which appears just above the first of the threads, to the right, near 'Discussions'.

Daisy, I will try that.

KsRogers, someone said that your manner was rude, and it was was. Now kindly go back to whatever it is you do, and let this be please. Your attitude is showing!

Maraposatraiconera,

Just who are you to tell me what to do?? Some people just ignore my HELPFUL writings even if they are very useful and informative to MOST. I feel its an insult to me when someone will ignore my HELPFUL answers, then ask the same repeated questions again.

As previoisly stated, my ORIGINAL ANSWER linked to the SAME site for Thyme plants as well as MINT plants. Even though BOTH are HERBS, there seems to be a problem with reading a thread or two and finding an answer...

Daisyduck, you're so kind. Thanks for trying to help. When I went to the Exchanges link, it asks for me to register even though I am already registered and can post here. Not sure what the problem is though.

Someone was kind enough to share another website (gardening tips) with me, and I have found a source to buy the thyme plant from. Thanks again Daisy :-)

Daisy, I passsed your description of this plant on to someone and she found it so helpful. You sound like a very experienced gardener, which I am not!

My plants arrived but out of the four I ordered, only one is looking like it will survive :-(

Daisyduckworth is always unfailingly kind and generous with her vast knowledge and experience...a refreshing change in this world that is becoming increasingly more selfish and self-oriented. Thank you, Daisy, for your wonderful spirit of selfless generosity! I appreciate it anew every time you post.

Evaperconti- And to the rest, who cares?? Looks like your quickly making some friends?

Hi Eva! Daisy, I wrote to GW to find out why I am unable to get into the exchange forum.

We have a herb garden and I was wondering if the plant I bought would do better outdoors or indoors? Thanks again for your informative post to my question :-)

With luck, you might even get a response, but don't hold your breath!

Mother of Herbs will be much, much happier outside where it can spread to its heart's content. It's a groundcover, after all. It likes well-drained, dryish soil, full sun, and does well in humid climates. In cold climates, bring pots of the herb indoors in winter. It is incredibly easy to propagate. Cut off a piece - any size - stick it into the dirt and it never fails to take off.

We go below freezing here, so I think mine will have to be in pots. Does it get very tall? Have you planted this before?

It's a fast-growing, sprawling perennial reaching a height of about 45cm, with aromatic green or variegated succulent leaves and clusters flowers on long stalks.

I suggest, if you can, that you grow it in the ground for as long as you can, then simply take cuttings to keep over winter.

Will do Daisy, though I fear the last plant may not make it. Today I checked, the tiny leaves looked wilted. I think the best thing for me is to try and find a plant in my area instead of ordering online.

Give it a drink if the soil is dry; stop watering if the soil is wet. Although it can tolerate dryISH conditions, it's not a desert plant. It's one reason I suggested putting it outside if you can.

Is there enough of the plant for you to take a cutting? If so, give that a try. Leave the cutting for a day or so before planting to give it a better chance of 'taking'. I've seen the most pathetic cuttings grow into beautiful plants.

Daisy, the plant died. I am leaving it in the pot just in case "something" miraculous happens in the next few days, but to my eyes, it seems to be dead.

The good news is that my sister heard how upset I was about my thyme plants, and bought me three from another source. They arrived today (it was a surprise) and came in excellent condition! They look like a good 6" with lots of leaves, and healthy stems. Keep your fingers crossed.

I will have to go back and read what you said about caring for them. Someone told me to put them in clay pots and never use plastic? They also said to use a combo soil with some sand for drainage?

What a shame, so disappointing for you! But now you have a chance at a second try, and that's part of the fun with gardening.

It doesn't really matter what sort of pots you use, as long as they have plenty of holes for drainage. I have almost all plastic pots - I suspect clay pots might get too hot for plants in my subtropical part of the world, even though they are porous, allowing for cooling evaporation (which means they need more water!). I use just any good quality potting mix for all my potted plants.

Daisy, Here are my "three" new girls. They came from Companion Plants, and I must say that the packing and quality of these plants made a difference. They looked healthy to begin with, so I am hoping that my girls will give me grandkids in the future i.e. lots of cuttings, LOL

{{gwi:896869}}

The one in front is the Variegated, and to the right is Cuban Oregan (or Broadleaf thyme as it's called in some Caribbean islands), and to the back on the left is the Portuguese oregano. The leaf is much thinner and is not as pungent as the other two. Do you know anything about the PO? Is it for decorative purposes or can I use it in cooking as well? Thought you might enjoy seeing my new babies :-)

They are all just variations of the same plant. "A rose by any other name is still a rose" - for 'rose', read 'Mother of Herbs'. It's entirely possible that the two variegated ones will revert and end up looking like the plain one, from which they are derived. Use them in the same ways.

You'd make me really, really happy if you called them all Mother of Herbs, and not Something Sage, or Something Thyme! Common names can be so misleading, as this thread has shown.

Well Daisy, when I used it in the Caribbean it was referred to as Broadleaf or Spanish thyme so that's what I am used to. Are they all called Mother of herbs as the botanical name? This plant is surely not native to America, is it?

The botanical name is Plectranthus amboinicus, or sometimes Coleus amboinicus (Coleus amboinicus syn. C. aromaticus, if you want to be technical!). Mother of Herbs is one of the common names for it - just as all the other names are, and really depend on where you come from!

I rather like the name Queen of Herbs, actually.

It is native to subtropical Asia - southern India, Sri Lanka, and south to North Africa.

I think next year I will try a cutting in the ground and see what happens (when it is warm enough), but for now, my girls are staying in pots because once we start getting cooler, they're coming indoors. Waited too long to get them!

I can see why the herb turned up in some of the Caribbean islands. There is an island called Trinidad that has a large population of East Indians.

A cutting will strike better if you let it (in particular, the wound) dry out for a day or two before planting it - just leave it lying around! I have never, ever had a cutting NOT strike.