Photo of Thymus vulgaris flower by Kurt Stueber

Photo by Kurt Stueber

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Thymus vulgaris

Also Known As

  • Thymus vulgaris 'French Thyme'
  • Common Thyme
  • Culinary Thyme
  • English Thyme
  • The Herb of Courage

Plant type

perennial, herb

size

  • H: 6"-12"
  • W: 6"-12"

planting zones

  • 4a-10b

More Options

Thymus vulgaris plant details

Thymus vulgaris is a broadleaf evergreen or semi-evergreen perennial herb with blue and green foliage. In spring and summer lavender and pink flowers emerge. Attracts bees, beneficial insects and butterflies making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. Grows well with sun - mostly sun and regular - low water. Prefers to be dry in summer. Does well in average, gritty, rich and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something heat tolerant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Thymus vulgaris

Plant type: perennial herb
Plant family: lamiaceae
Foliage: evergreen or semi-evergreen blue and green
Mature size: 6 IN - 12 IN - wide, 6 IN - 12 IN - tall
Flowers: lavender and pink blooms in spring and summer
Uses: culinary, fragrant foliage, rock garden, year round interest

GROWING CONDITIONS for Thymus vulgaris

USDA Zones: 4a - 10b
Sun exposure: sun - mostly sun
Watering frequency: regular - low
Resistant to: deer and rabbit, heat
Soil needs: average, gritty, rich and well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

Thyme is one of those delicious herbs that is very easy to grow and very easy to harvest. Fresh cut and thrown onto cooking potatoes or fish adds that indescribable flavor and scent that says 'home cooking.' The scent is also very apparent just from brushing the plant with your fingers in the garden.

Thyme is completely deer proof as they don't like the scent. The evergreen foliage retains its usefulness as an herb throughout the year, an important addition to a year-round garden.

Propagation
Seed is often difficult to germinate, so the best form of propagation is by short softwood stem cuttings. Cuttings of the new growth will often root in as little as three weeks, and woody stems will usually root within two months.
This is the traditional culinary variety and can be used fresh or dried in salads or in poultry or tomato dishes. Tiny, lavender pink blossoms are attractive to bees. This upright thyme is essentially a woody, low-growing shrub. It is evergreen and brings its wonderful scent to the ornamental or herb garden. It is also great in containers.
Mounding perennial herb with orange scent and flavor. Growing 4-6" tall is used in butters, sauces, teas, cooking, and garnish.
They say that fairies live in patches of thyme! A small evergreen, many branched, aromatic small scale ground cover…tiny silvery leaves (fairy sized), white to purple flowers in summer; sun, good drainage, occasional water. This herb flavors almost ANYT
The culinary uses of Garden Thyme (a.k.a. “The Herb of Courage”) are commonly known, but I bet you didn’t know that during the Crusades it was used in a tea to ward off nightmares. Modern herbalists prescribe tea for coughs & respiratory ailments. It is also purported to have antiseptic attributes. Golly, what don’t these garden herbs do? Low growing & evergreen, it’s very hard to kill Thyme so long as you plant it in sun & give it good drainage. The blooms are nothing to write home about (lightest lavender, borne in April or May) but they are DE-LICIOUS to bees. Thyme grows 6-8” tall & around 1’ wide.

By: Annie's Annuals & Perennials

Gardening facts about Thymus vulgaris plant

How to Grow Thymus vulgaris

  • Sun Exposure

    • sun - mostly sun
  • Water Needs

    • regular - low
  • Water Needs

    • dry in summer
  • Soil Needs

    • average
    • well-drained
    • rich
    • gritty
  • Special Situation

    • heat tolerant

Features

  • Foliage Color

    • green
    • blue
  • Flower Color

    • pink
    • lavender
  • Wildlife

    • beneficial insects
    • bees
    • butterflies
    • deer resistant
    • rabbit resistant
  • Flower Season

    • summer
    • spring
  • Foliage Season

    • evergreen
    • semi-evergreen
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