Thymus vulgaris
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Origanum thymus
- Thymus collinus
- Phonetic Spelling
- THY-mus vul-GAIR-iss
- Description
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Common thyme is a woody, broadleaf evergreen perennial in the mint family (Lamiaceae) native to Southwestern Europe and southeastern Italy. There are many cultivars. The origin of the word "thyme" is from the Greek word, thumos, which means "courage." During Medieval times, thyme was thought to have been an emblem of bravery. The word thyme may also be derived from the Greek word, thymos, meaning "perfume." The species name, vulgaris, is Latin and means "common" or "widespread."
It performs best in dry, sandy, or rocky soils, prefers full sun, requires good drainage, and a neutral to alkaline pH. It is frost and drought-tolerant. Common thyme is a low-maintenance plant, but it should be trimmed whenever it gets leggy. Cut it back in early spring and summer to reduce its woody growth. Transplanting or dividing is best done in the early spring. The best methods of propagation are stem cuttings, layering, or division. Due to uneven germination, it is difficult to propagate common thyme from seeds.
Grown primarily as an aromatic culinary herb, common thyme forms a mound about 6 to 12 inches high and 6 to 16 inches wide. Harvest it just before it flowers when the essential oil content of the leaves is at its peak. It is recommended to cut five to six inches off the top growth and leave the woody stems. For the plant to thrive, always leave five inches of growth. The leaves are very fragrant which makes the plant less attractive to browsing deer. See this publication for information on harvesting and preserving herbs.
In addition to an edible or herb garden, common thyme makes a great addition to a pollinator garden. The flowers are attractive to bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects. Use in children’s, cottage, cutting, rock, or winter gardens. Plant it in small groups or as a border in a naturalized area, a recreational play area, or along a walkway, Common thyme does well in a container indoors or outside.
Quick ID Hints:
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Linear leaves are ¼ inch to ½ inch long, have fine hairs, and are very fragrant
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Small purple/white pedicellate flowers that occur along a raceme
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Bushy subshrub with a woody base, growing up to 1 foot tall
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.
VIDEO Created by Laura Barth for "Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Nuts," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
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- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Vegetable, Herb and Mostly Native Pollinator Garden Pollinator and Culinary Garden Vegetable Garden at Reynolda Gardens
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Argenteus'
Green and creamy white leaves - 'Broadleaf English'
Broad, small leaves with white flowers sweeter fragrance - 'Dot's Well'
Small, narrow leaves - 'Gray Hill'
Pale lavender flowers, narrow gray leaves - 'Narrow Leaf French'
White flowers, fine gray leaves - 'Orange Balsam'
Narrow orange scented leaves, lavender flowers - 'Passion Pink'
Dark green leaves, pink flowers - 'Provencial'
Tiny, narrow gray-green leaves, white flowers, strong citrus aroma - 'Silver Posie'
Larger leaf and white margins - 'Tabor'
Dark green leaves, pink flowers, pungent
- 'Argenteus'
- 'Argenteus', 'Broadleaf English', 'Dot's Well', 'Gray Hill', 'Narrow Leaf French', 'Orange Balsam', 'Passion Pink', 'Provencial', 'Silver Posie', 'Tabor'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Argenteus'
Green and creamy white leaves - 'Broadleaf English'
Broad, small leaves with white flowers sweeter fragrance - 'Dot's Well'
Small, narrow leaves - 'Gray Hill'
Pale lavender flowers, narrow gray leaves - 'Narrow Leaf French'
White flowers, fine gray leaves - 'Orange Balsam'
Narrow orange scented leaves, lavender flowers - 'Passion Pink'
Dark green leaves, pink flowers - 'Provencial'
Tiny, narrow gray-green leaves, white flowers, strong citrus aroma - 'Silver Posie'
Larger leaf and white margins - 'Tabor'
Dark green leaves, pink flowers, pungent
- 'Argenteus'
- 'Argenteus', 'Broadleaf English', 'Dot's Well', 'Gray Hill', 'Narrow Leaf French', 'Orange Balsam', 'Passion Pink', 'Provencial', 'Silver Posie', 'Tabor'
- Tags:
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-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Thymus
- Species:
- vulgaris
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Thymus vulgaris has been cultivated since ancient times for religious, medicinal, and culinary purposes. The leaves have been used as an antiseptic as well as in a liquid form to treat bronchitis.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Layering
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southwestern Europe and Southeastern Italy
- Distribution:
- Native: Baleares, France, Italy, Spain; Introduced: Algeria, Belgium, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Leeward Islands, New Zealand South, Puerto Rico, and Switzerland
- Wildlife Value:
- Nectar from the flowers attracts bees and butterflies.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Fragrance
- Edibility:
- The leaves are used fresh or dried to flavor soups, stews, sauces, meats, or fish. It is a native Mediterranean herb that was cultivated as a culinary herb.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 4 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Ground Cover
- Herb
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Schizocarp
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is a schizocarp and has four locules or small separate cavities. When the fruit dries, it will split into four sections. Each section contains one or more seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- Tepals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The flowers are spikes of small, whorled, white, or pinkish-lavender flowers. They are found on the tips of the stems from May to July. The bloom is 4-5 mm long, tubular-shaped, two-lipped, and has four protruding stamens. The flowers are rich in nectar and attractive to bees and butterflies.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fragrant
- Good Cut
- Good Dried
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are tiny and dark grayish-green in color. They are linear to ovate in shape and have pointed tips. They set at tight right angles to each other, and are 1/4-1/2 inches in length. The margins are entire and revolute (leaf margins roll under.) The leaves are very aromatic, particularly at flowering. They may be used fresh or dried as a culinary herb.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- Yes
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The stems are semi-woody, upright, or angled outwards. Hairs are distributed on the stems. The plant grows in tufts and is densely matted together.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Naturalized Area
- Recreational Play Area
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Edible Garden
- Garden for the Blind
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Foot Traffic
- Insect Pests
- Pollution
- Poor Soil
- Rabbits
