Thyme: Growing, Planting, Pruning

Description, origin and botany

Thyme is a plant native to Western and Southern Europe, particularly abundant in the Mediterranean basin as well as in East Asia and Japan. It is an extremely hardy plant that thrives in challenging conditions. In garrigue scrubland, it grows in full sun on rocky, dry and poor soils. The praecox species, better adapted to cold climates, grows wild in Iceland, Ireland, Scotland, southern parts of the UK and at high altitudes in the Alps. Today, the Thymus genus includes over 300 species and varieties.

The genus name Thymus derives from the Greek Thumon, meaning fragrance, referring to the scent emitted by this highly aromatic plant. Its common name, Thyme, stems from the Greek word. In southern France, it is also known as barigoule or farigoule. Wild thyme refers to another thyme species (Thymus serpyllum), characterised by its creeping habit, forming highly fragrant, lawn-like mats.

Common Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is a perennial subshrub belonging to the Lamiaceae family. Small in stature, it grows 20 to 40 cm tall and forms clumps composed of numerous small, branched stems – herbaceous in the first year, becoming woody and gnarled in subsequent years. These bear small evergreen leaves, grey-green to silvery-green in colour, which release a strong fragrance when crushed.

Flowering begins as early as March in its natural habitat – the garrigue – and later in gardens (late spring to early summer). The flowers appear at the tips of stems, in the leaf axils, forming cyme inflorescences of tiny half-centimetre-long blooms, ranging from white to pink-mauve. These develop into minuscule brown seeds that retain their germination capacity for up to three years. They often self-seed spontaneously in vegetable gardens.

With good hardiness, thyme can withstand temperatures as low as -15°C, provided the soil is well-drained. This resilience diminishes in heavy, waterlogged soils!

Thyme flowers are particularly nectar-rich, attracting numerous pollinating insects. Beekeepers harvest a strongly flavoured thyme honey. You might even spot the endangered blue butterfly species that depends on thyme – it lays its eggs on thyme flower buds. This is the Large Blue butterfly (Phengaris arion)!

Herbaceous stems of common thyme – Thyme in bloom – The Large Blue butterfly

Species and varieties of thyme

Common Thyme Varieties

Other Thyme Species

Thymus vulgaris Organic - Ferme de Sainte Marthe seeds

Common Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is the most widely used species in cooking and for medicinal purposes. Recognisable by its dark green to grey leaves and twisted stems.

• Height at maturity 25 cm

See the product sheet

Thymus vulgaris Winter Thyme - Vilmorin seeds

Winter thyme is a variety of common thyme with greater hardiness. It therefore withstands even the harshest winters perfectly. Its foliage is also greener than Common Thyme.

• Height at maturity 30 cm

See the product sheet

Thymus vulgaris Provence

Provençal Thyme is a variety of common thyme with slightly greyish leaves. It has good cold resistance.

• Flowering time July to September
• Height at maturity 25 cm

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Thymus citriodorus - Lemon Thyme Organic

Lemon Thyme (Thymus x citriodorus) is a thyme hybrid with lemon-scented leaves. Less hardy than common thyme, it needs protection from the cold in winter.

• Flowering time July to September
• Height at maturity 25 cm

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Corsican Thyme - Thymus herba-barona

Corsican Thyme (Thymus herba barona) is a creeping thyme variety with dark green leaves and a fragrance reminiscent of cumin. It's a species that grows and thrives naturally in Corsica.

• Flowering time July to September
• Height at maturity 15 cm

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Thymus vulgaris Fragrantissimus - Orange Thyme in plants

Thymus fragrantissimum Orange, also called orange thyme, is a variety whose leaves and flowers exude a citrusy fragrance. Its flowering is remarkable.

• Flowering time July to September
• Height at maturity 25 cm

See the product sheet

Thymus serpyllum - Ferme de Sainte Marthe seeds

Wild Thyme (Thymus serphyllum), also called creeping thyme, is a thyme species with a creeping habit, not exceeding 10 cm in height, often grown as ground cover. Its leaves have a lemony scent.

• Flowering time July to October
• Height at maturity 15 cm

See the product sheet

Sowing thyme

Sowing thyme is a delicate process as the seeds are very small. To ensure success, it’s preferable to sow in pots or seed trays rather than directly in the ground. Sowing can be done in April or May. Note also that sowing thyme requires patience: the first harvest will only begin in the second year.

Sowing in pots or seed trays

To sow thyme seeds:

1. Fill pots with special seed compost.
2. Sow the seeds in clusters, with 4 to 5 seeds per cluster.
3. Cover with a layer of compost equal to the thickness of the seeds – meaning very lightly for thyme!
4. Water gently using a spray bottle and keep the surface moist until germination.
5. To encourage germination, cover the pots with a pane of glass or a plastic bag, but remember to ventilate during the day once the seedlings appear.
6. In autumn or the following spring, depending on the plants’ growth, transplant your thyme seedlings into the ground. Allow 30 cm in all directions between plants.

Planting thyme, in the garden or in pots

Thyme thrives in light, even stony, well-drained soils. If your soil is rather damp and clayey, we recommend growing it in a pot where it will do very well. Planting takes place in spring (April-May) or autumn (September – October).

Planting in the ground

Choose a very sunny spot, planting is done in loosened and weeded soil. Space plants 30 cm apart in all directions.

To plant thyme in the garden:

1. Dig a hole the size of the plant, enrich very lightly with mature compost (thyme thrives even in poor soil).
2. Place one plant per planting hole.
3. Cover with soil and gently firm down.
4. Water for the first time. Rainwater warmed by the sun is always preferable.

To prevent the appearance of “weeds”, you can mulch around the base of your thyme. But remember its Mediterranean origins and opt for a mineral-based mulch instead.

Planting in pots

To plant thyme in pots or containers:

1. Place a layer of gravel or clay pebbles at the bottom of the container to aid drainage.
2. Fill with an equal mix of potting compost and garden soil, or pure potting compost… if you don’t have a garden!
3. Position the root ball, cover with the soil/compost mix and firm down well.
4. Water lightly.
5. Place your pot in full sun.

Thyme grows very well in pots

Discover our advice sheet for successfully growing thyme in pots.

Pruning thyme and watering

Thyme is a herb that requires very minimal maintenance, consisting mainly of pruning and watering only in cases of severe and prolonged drought.

Pruning thyme

Thyme naturally tends to spread open, revealing a bare centre, which isn’t always aesthetically pleasing, especially when grown in pots. An annual pruning in spring helps maintain a nice, compact and rounded shape. To do this, remove overly outward-growing branches and cut back last year’s growth. Use shears to trim half of the shoot (the herbaceous part) to encourage dense regrowth.

→ Learn more in our tutorial: Pruning thyme.

Watering thyme

Water very sparingly (if at all), mainly in summer, as thyme dislikes excess moisture. For pot-grown thyme, water regularly but avoid letting water stagnate in the saucer.

Harvesting and Storage

Thyme can be harvested all year round as its leaves are evergreen. It’s best picked in the morning. Thyme is more fragrant and richer in active compounds at the start of flowering. When pruning to maintain its lovely compact shape, take the opportunity to stock up for the winter months! Ideally for the plant’s health, harvest two-thirds of the herbaceous growth to encourage regrowth.

Thyme is traditionally preserved by drying. After washing and drying the stems, hang the bunches upside down in a dry, airy and dark place. Once dried, store the thyme away from light. This is a simple and quick process, though you may prefer freezing as a more convenient alternative to drying.

Discover our tutorial: How to Dry Thyme?

Uses and Benefits

The thyme leaves, with their garrigue fragrance, are highly prized in cooking. Used alone or in a bouquet garni, combined with bay leaves, parsley, and rosemary, they flavour stews, sauces, marinades, and court-bouillons. The thyme flowers, less common in cooking, add originality and taste to your dishes! They are best used fresh, right after harvesting, for example to enhance sauces, season and garnish a dish, or to give a real boost to your desserts and pastries, such as in a lemon and thyme flower cake.

The properties of thyme are remarkable for relieving various ailments and for stimulating and strengthening the immune system. It is an excellent antiseptic for the respiratory tract. It is most commonly used as an infusion of leaves (herbaceous stems), but also in the form of essential oils. The latter, depending on their main constituents (their chemotypes), can sometimes be very potent and are reserved for adults—always seek advice from your pharmacist before using them.

Read our advice in How to Naturally Treat a Cold with Thyme?

Propagating Thyme

Thyme can be propagated by dividing clumps or through cuttings, at any time of year. This operation is recommended after a few years, particularly in cold and damp climates, to renew the plants.

Dividing clumps

Dividing clumps is the easiest and most effective method for propagating thyme. To divide your thyme plants:

1. Lift the clumps.
2. Divide into several sections using secateurs. Ensure each section has roots.
3. Replant the sections in pots or directly in the ground, covering the crown with soil.
4. Water to encourage the plants to establish.

Taking cuttings

Cuttings are less reliable than dividing clumps but are still possible. To take thyme cuttings:

1. Take 20cm-long stems.
2. Bury two-thirds of the stem in soil and firm down.
3. Water regularly for 2 months to encourage rooting.
4. Plant out the following spring, in April-May once all risk of frost has passed.

→ Learn more with our tutorial: How to propagate thyme?

Self-seeding

To propagate thyme, you can also rely on self-seeding! After flowering, thyme will set seed each year. It’s common for some of these seeds to germinate and produce new plants near the parent plant. Keep an eye out during weeding—thyme seedlings are quite discreet! Once spotted, simply transplant them to the desired location or let them fill your herb patch.

Did you know?

Thyme has been known since antiquity, particularly celebrated by the Greeks who burned it in their temples. In Greek mythology, the most beautiful woman in the world and Queen of Sparta, Helen (daughter of Zeus and Leda), was charmed by Paris, a Trojan prince, who convinced her to accompany him to Troy. Menelaus, Helen’s husband, furious, triggered the Trojan War to reclaim her. Legend has it that thyme was born from Helen’s tears.