How to Grow Thyme -- Garden Chronicle

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Thyme is a genus of aromatic herbs or shrubby plants that belong to the mint family. There are several vrieties of thyme that are cultivated as bohyt ornamental and sweet herbs. Most have small lavender or pink flowers. They are often planted in the rock gardens, as borders in ornamental gardens, or in herb gardens.

Thyme grows easily in ordinary garden soil. They are easily propagated from cuttings or seed.

Often grown in ornamental plantings is Thymus praecox arcticus, commonly called mother-of-thyme grows. It is an aromatic, creeping, mat-forming evergreen with tiny, ¼ inch (6mm) leaves. Small ½ inch (12mm) rose-purple flowers bloom in clusters atop 4-inch (210cm) stems in summer.

Table of Contents

Get to know Thyme

Plant type: Perennial summer-flowering groundcover
Growing Zones and range: 5-9
Hardiness: Tender
Height and width: 4”- 8” tall, 8”- 12” wide
Foliage: Very small ¼ inch leaves elongated heart-shaped
Flowers: Pink and white
Bloom time: Spring and summer
Uses: Groundcover, rock garden, drought-tolerant, attracts bees
Botanical name: Thymus spp.
Common name: Creeping Thyme

Where to plant Thyme

Plant creeping thyme in full sun; planting in part shade is best in hot climates.
Grow creeping thyme in light, loose, well-drained alkaline soil.
Creeping thyme grows well in hot, dry, alkaline soil.

Creeping thyme, Thymus — Creeping thyme, *Thymus*

When to plant Thyme

Set creeping thyme in the garden in spring or fall.

Planting and spacing Thyme

Space creeping thyme 8 to 12 inches apart.

How to water and feed Thyme

Creeping thyme needs moderate moisture; keep the soil evenly moist. Established plants are drought tolerant.
Creeping thyme does not need fertilizer.

Thyme care

Cut plants back to an inch or two in they become too tall or messy.

Thyme propagation

Sow seed in containers in spring.
Divide in spring or take a cutting to root in late spring.

Thyme varieties to grow

Thymus x citriodorus, lemon-scented thyme, lemon-scented mid-green leaves; pale lavender flowers in summer.
T. praecox arcticus, commonly called mother-of-thyme grows to 4 inches tall; a groundcover with dark green leaves and rose, purple, crimson or white flowers.
T. pseudolanuginosus (wooly thyme): tiny gray, woolly leaves turn steely purple in winter, mat-forming, rose-pink flowers.
T. serphyllum, mother of thyme, trailing stems; purple flowers; several cultivars include ‘Elfin’ which forms dense mounds.
T. vulgaris, common thyme, cushion-forming, gray-green leaves; purple to white flowers in summer. ‘Argentus’ is silver thyme with a strong lemon scent.

Thymus praecox articus — Mother-of-thyme

Thymus praecox articus is an aromatic herb that forms mats of tiny, dark elliptical, evergreen leaves that release a minty-herbal scent when crushed. In late spring and early summer, ½ -inch-tall spikes of tiny, fragrant, rose-purple flowers completely blanket the foliage and attract bees.

Size: 3 to 6 inches tall; spreads to 2-foot-wide mats.
Light: Full sun.
Soil and moisture: Average to sandy, well-drained soil; moderate moisture. Drought tolerant.
Planting and propagation: Plant container-grown plants in spring, spacing 1 to 2 feet apart. Divide in spring or fall.
Special care: Good drainage essential.
Pest and diseases: Fungus diseases troublesome in damp sites.
Climate: Zones 5-9.
Cultivars and similar species: Often mislabeled T. serphyllum. ‘Coccineus,’ reddish purple flowers, foliage bronzes in winter; ‘Albus,’ white flowers. T. pseudolanuginosus (wooly thyme): tiny gray, woolly leaves turn steely purple in winter, mat-forming, rose-pink flowers. T. vulgaris (common thyme): gray-green leaves, woody stems, favored for cooking. T. x citriodorus (lemon thyme): glossy lemon-scented leaves, 6 to 8 inches tall, rose-purple flowers; ‘Argenteus,’ silver variegated.
Garden use: Lovely, fragrant paving plant for paths and patios; use as edging or ground cover in herb or rock gardens.