Herb Garden Plants: Thyme

Botanical Name: Thymus vulgaris (TY-muss vul-GAIR-iss)

Family: Lamiaceae (lay-mee-AY-see-ee); mint

History and Etymology: Thyme originated in southern Europe and northern Africa. The genus thymus comes from the Latin fumus, meaning "to smoke."  Thyme was burned to purify rooms or repel insects. During the Black Plague, doctors wore "nose gays" and masks that included thyme when visiting sick rooms. The first colonists used it as a food preservative and medicine. Thomas Jefferson records it as one of the "objects for the garden" in 1794.

Description: This small, shrub-like plant has numerous quadrangular, woody stems that are finely covered with hair. The opposite, sessile leaves are ¼ to 1/2 inch long, ovate to lanceolate, and slightly rolled at the edges with a pale, hairy underside. The bluish-purple to pink flowers are tubular, two-lipped, and less than ¼-inch long. They are arranged in whorled terminal clusters. The fruit is comprised of four tiny, seed-like nutlets.

Cultivars:

• 'Narrow Leaf French' is preferred by chefs with a lighter, sweeter taste.
• 'Broadleaf English' is the most robust.
• 'German Winter' is a very winter-hardy plant and has good culinary flavor.
• 'Silver Queen' has silver-colored leaves and a lemon fragrance.
• 'Provencial' has tiny, narrow grayish-green leaves, white flowers, and a strong citrus aroma.

Plant Type and Hardiness: Perennial; USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 5 to 9.

Height and Width: Height 12 inches; width 10 to 12 inches.

Bloom Color and Time: Bluish purple to pink; June and July.

Light and Soil: Full sun to partial shade; light, dry, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.3.

Cultivation: In spring, sow seeds in a seed tray or scatter directly onto the ground. Keep plants moist while young. Thin to about 12 inches apart. When propagated by seed, it may take several years to mature enough to harvest. Once well established, thyme does not require much watering or any fertilizer. Trim plants to limit woody growth or stimulate new growth. Plants may become overly woody over time and need to be replaced. Root division should be done in the spring with well-established plants. Dig up the entire root ball and divide the bush into smaller parts, making sure each piece has rootlets attached. Cuttings should be taken from new growth in late spring. Insert 4-inch shoot tips into pots of sand medium and keep them well watered.

Companion Planting: No information available.

Pollinators: Left to flower, thyme will produce an abundance of small flowers and attract numerous small pollinators, including many species of native bees and parasitoid wasps. 

Pests and Diseases: Root rot, fungal diseases, and spider mites.

Propagation: Seeds, division, or cuttings.

Harvesting: Harvest the leafy branches just before the plant flowers. Gather them on a dry day after the dew has dried and before midday. Strip the bottom 2 inches of leaves and bundle with a rubber band. Hang in bundles upside down in a shady, dry, airy place. When the leaves are crisp to the touch, strip them from the stems and store them in airtight containers.

Herbal Uses: Aromatic, cosmetic, culinary, decorative, and landscape. The dried flowers and leaves scent potpourris and sachets. Thyme is used in herbal lotions and baths. It is used to flavor vinegars, butter, tea, poultry, fish, stuffing, stew, soup, bread, mayonnaise, mushrooms, and broccoli. It is used in wreaths and floral arrangements. Some species are used as landscape ornamentals, in rock gardens and walkways, or as border plants in herb gardens. Thyme can be grown in containers.

Garden Notes: Several popular thyme species are suitable for home gardens. Lemon thyme (T. x. citriodorus) has a light lemon taste and scent. Woolly thyme (T. pseudolanuginosus) is a prostrate form and good for rock gardens and between pavers.  Creeping thyme (T. praecox) grows only 2 to 3 inches tall and is an excellent ground cover. Wild thyme (T. serpyllum), also known as mother-of-thyme, is a good landscape plant for edging as it is low-growing with flower colors ranging from red to purple plus green, gold, or variegated foliage. Elfin thyme (T. serpyllum 'Elfin') grows only 1 to 2 inches.