Size
Ultimate height
Up to 10cmTime to ultimate height
5–10 yearsUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Pink Purple | Green | ||
| Autumn | Green | |||
| Winter | Green |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Exposed or ShelteredDrought resistance
Yes Hardiness
H5Botanical details
- Family
- Lamiaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Habit
- Matforming
- 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
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in a sunny position in well-drained soil. If your soil is heavy or likely to sit wet over winter, grow in a pot, in a soil-based compost with added grit. Remove fallen leaves that settle on thyme plants in autumn, to prevent rotting. See thyme cultivation for further advice
Propagation
Propagate by taking semi-hardwood cuttings in mid to late summer
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Cottage and informal garden
- Gravel garden
- Mediterranean climate plants
- Patio and container plants
- Rock garden
- Ground cover
Pruning
No pruning required. Dead flower heads can be snipped off in late summer
Pests
Generally pest-free
Diseases
Generally disease-free
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.