Satureja thymbra aka Persian Zatar

Satureja thymbra is a small subshrub in the mint family, Lamiaceae. Its common names include thyme-leaved savory, Cretan savory and Roman hyssop. Its native range runs from southern Sardinia to the eastern Mediterranean. It occurs in Greece, Crete, Turkey, Cyprus, Libya and the Levant. It grows on dry, rocky hills in sunny places. Kew places it within the subtropical biome.

This shrub reaches about 1.3 feet (0.4 metres) tall and wide. It grows at a moderate rate. Its small size suits cultivated beds with good drainage. The leaves have a peppery taste that recalls thyme. Flowers appear from May to June. Each flower has both male and female parts. The plant is self-fertile, so it can set seed without another plant. Plants can flower and set seed in their first year. Bees visit it, adding value to a small herb garden.

Choose a sunny site with soil that drains well. Plants For A Future lists sand, loam and clay as suitable. Its cultivation notes favour neutral to alkaline soil. Those notes warn that soil which stays damp causes problems. The same source lists moist soil in its general profile. Read these points together as a need for moisture without lasting wetness. Lean soil and very good drainage may improve winter survival. Its listed USDA range is 6–9, but the cold advice conflicts. The cultivation notes warn of damage below freezing in Britain. In cold areas, it can grow as an annual.

Use the leaves to season beans, vegetables, bread and brined olives. Leaves and young shoots also make an herbal tea. Harvest leaves through the growing season for fresh or dried use. Traditional medicinal uses include relief of mild digestive trouble and chest congestion. These recorded uses do not establish clinical benefit. Plants For A Future reports no known hazards. That statement does not confirm safety for every person or pet.

The herb also has uses beyond food. A strong infusion has served to wash wine barrels before filling. Its essential oil contains thymol and carvacrol and has pharmaceutical uses. To raise plants, sow seed on the surface under glass in April. Keep the seed compost from drying out. Germination may be uneven and take about a month. Grow small seedlings in pots before planting out. Shelter young plants through their first winter where winters are cold. Half-ripe cuttings offer another way to raise plants in summer.