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Thymus citriodorus

Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Thymus × citriodorus
  • Thymus fragrantissimus
  • Thymus serpyllum citratus
Phonetic Spelling
TY-mus si-tri-OH-dor-us
Description

Lemon thyme is an herb in the mint family possibly native to Europe. It has had several name changes and at one time was thought to be a hybrid. DNA testing has now determined it to be a distinct species. Genus name comes from the Greek word thymos and the species name means lemon-scented.

This evergreen subshrub mounds to 6-12 inches high and can spread to 1 foot wide. It is grown as a garden plant, as a culinary herb and is also used in herbal medicine. The tubular pink flowers attract pollinators and the green leaves have a nice lemony scent and are edible. It is deer, rabbit, drought and heat tolerant.

Lemon thyme prefers well-drained sandy or rocky soil in full to partial sun. Use this plant as a ground cover, in rock gardens, in the front of the border, in an edible garden or in containers.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Root rot will occur in too-moist soils.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Archers Gold'
    Variegated leaves
  • 'Doone Valley'
    Leaves tipped in gold in fall and winter
  • 'Silver Queen'
    Silver colored leaves and lemon fragrance
  • 'Variegata'
    Leaves variegated
'Archers Gold', 'Doone Valley', 'Silver Queen', 'Variegata'
Tags:
#evergreen#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#low growing#pink flowers#fragrant leaves#low maintenance#rabbit resistant#mounding#edging#spreading#summer flowers#deer resistant#herbaceous perennial#groundcover#border front#container plant#edible#herb#buncombe county sun and shade garden#th-smell#hs303
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Archers Gold'
    Variegated leaves
  • 'Doone Valley'
    Leaves tipped in gold in fall and winter
  • 'Silver Queen'
    Silver colored leaves and lemon fragrance
  • 'Variegata'
    Leaves variegated
'Archers Gold', 'Doone Valley', 'Silver Queen', 'Variegata'
Tags:
#evergreen#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#low growing#pink flowers#fragrant leaves#low maintenance#rabbit resistant#mounding#edging#spreading#summer flowers#deer resistant#herbaceous perennial#groundcover#border front#container plant#edible#herb#buncombe county sun and shade garden#th-smell#hs303
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Thymus
    Species:
    citriodorus
    Family:
    Lamiaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Used in herbal medicine and aroma therapies
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Europe
    Wildlife Value:
    Nectar attracts pollinators
    Edibility:
    Leaves and flowers can be eaten raw in salads or cooked in various dishes
    Dimensions:
    Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Edible
    Ground Cover
    Herb
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Habit/Form:
    Mounding
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Fine
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Tubular
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Small tubular pink flowers in terminal whorls appear in mid-summer.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Fragrant
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Shape:
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Small ovate leaves are evergreen and aromatic. Some may be edged in cream color
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Green branching stems
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Patio
    Pool/Hardscape
    Slope/Bank
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Cottage Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Edible Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Rock Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Diseases
    Drought
    Foot Traffic
    Insect Pests
    Poor Soil
    Rabbits