Thyme

Introduce scenery from the Greek Isles to your garden with lush plantings of thyme. This sun-loving, drought-tolerant herb carpets hillsides in Greece, thriving in well-drained soil. Drought conditions concentrate the aromatic oils in thyme, so the drier your growing conditions, the better. In your garden, tucking plants into raised beds or mulching them with gravel will give thyme the conditions that cause it to thrive and be flavorful.

The flowers beckon honeybees, so add thyme near vegetable gardens to assure an ample supply of pollinators. Shear plants back after bloom, cutting off about a third of stems. With dainty proportions, thyme suits containers or the tight growing quarters between stepping stones.

Thyme introduces a savory flavor to dishes, such as roasted vegetables, soups, and sauces. It is also a key ingredient in bouquet garni, fines herbes, and herbes de Provence. Use thyme to enhance poultry, beef, pork, or seafood. This herb also adds a kick to cheese and egg creations. Thyme's oils take time to be infused into dishes; add thyme early in the cooking process to release the greatest flavor.

Light:

Sun

Zones:

4-9

Plant Type:

Perennial

Plant Height:

3-12 inches tall

Plant Width:

18 inches wide

Flower Color:

Blooms are bluish-purple to pink

Bloom Time:

Plants flower in spring

Landscape Uses:

Containers, Beds & Borders, Slopes, Groundcover

Special Features:

Flowers, Attractive Foliage, Fragrant, Dried Flowers, Attracts Butterflies, Drought Tolerant, Deer Resistant

Top Varieties

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English thyme

(Thymus vulgaris) is the classic culinary thyme and it sounds a savory note in dishes. Zone 5-9
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Gold lemon thyme

(Thymus citriodorus 'Aureus') serves up a bold citrus flavor in its gilt-edged leaves. Use these lemony leaves to recipes calling for lemon juice, lemon zest, or lemon flavoring. Zones 4-8
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Red creeping thyme

(Thymus serpyllum) carpets the ground with red blossoms in spring. This ground cover is a natural addition to an alpine or rock garden, or tucked between stepping stones along a garden path. Zones 4-9
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Silver thyme

(Thymus argenteus) offers white-edged leaves, creating a lacy appearance. Use silver thyme interchangeably with thyme in recipes. Zones 4-10
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Woolly thyme

(Thymus pseudolanuginosus) is a fast-spreading groundcover that thyme quickly blankets an area with fuzzy leaves that stand up to moderate foot traffic. Choose this thyme for a footpath, lawn replacement, or textural standout in a rock garden. Zones 4-8
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