Thymus vulgaris

RHS Plant Profile
common thyme

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common thyme RHS 2002
common thyme visionspictures.com
common thyme visionspictures.com

Other common names

garden thyme, pot-herb thyme

Synonyms

Thymus vulgaris 'German Winter'
Thymus vulgaris 'Deutsche Auslese'
Thymus vulgaris French

Plants for pollinators
Shrubs Herbs - Culinary
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A bushy, dwarf, evergreen shrub up to 30cm tall and 40cm wide; with small, linear to ovate, aromatic, dark grey-green leaves, and terminal spikes of small, whorled, white or pink flowers in early summer. Thyme is a popular culinary herb, with various cultivars available. The flowers are favoured by bees and other pollinators

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
5–10 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H5

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Foliage
Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Lamiaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Bushy
Genus
Thymus are evergreen woody-based perennials, shrub or sub-shrubs with small aromatic leaves and terminal whorls of small, 2-lipped, tubular, purple, pink or white flowers in late spring or summer
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
W Mediterranean

How to Grow

Cultivation

Drought-tolerant once established, common thyme is easy to grow in most well-drained, alkaline to neutral soils in full sun. See thyme cultivation for further advice.

Propagation

Propagate by seed, by division or plant rooted basal stem cuttings in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Mediterranean climate plants
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut back in spring

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free