How to Plant and Grow Thyme

Thyme isn't just an herb to grow for adding flavor to food, it can also add plenty of color and texture to your garden. This tough and rugged perennial often forms dense mats of foliage that are topped with attractive blossoms. There are also some wonderful low-growing varieties that can be planted between rocks and paths, where they'll release their delightful fragrance when brushed. Some low-growing thyme varieties can be used as a lawn substitute. Many cooks plant thyme near the kitchen so they can easily snip a stem or two when cooking. Thyme also makes a good container plant.

Where to Plant Thyme

 Select a location in full sun and well-draining soil that has a pH close to neutral.

Let the type of thyme be your guide on where to plant it. For culinary thyme, choose a convenient spot close to the kitchen. Ornamental thyme varieties work well as an edging or border plant for perennial beds lining a patio or walkway. They are ideal for rock gardens and beautifully cascade down a stone wall.

Mass plantings make a lovely scented groundcover that can even serve as a lawn substitute. Take advantage of the fact that thyme flowers are a magnet for beneficial insects and plant thyme near fruit and vegetable plants to attract honeybees and other pollinators.

How and When to Plant Thyme

Plant thyme in the spring after all danger of frost has passed. When planting potted nursery plants, dig a hole about twice the diameter of the pot and about the same depth. Place the plant in the hole and fill in original soil to the top of the root ball. Gently tamp down the soil and water it well. Keep it watered in the absence of rain until the plant is established.

Space plants 12 to 24 inches apart depending on the variety.

Thyme Care Tips

Thyme requires very little to no maintenance.

Light

Thyme needs ample sunlight. The amount of sunlight also affects the taste—to grow thyme that is flavorful, you need to give it at least six to eight hours of full sun per day.

Soil and Water

This tough Mediterranean herb is native to areas with rocky, poor soil and needs extremely well-drained soil to thrive because it is prone to rot in wet soil. It grows best in soil with a pH between 6.0 and 8.0.

Once established, thyme is a drought-tolerant plant and will not require much supplemental watering.

Temperature and Humidity

Thyme thrives in warm, dry summer weather. Many varieties are also cold-hardy and can survive subzero winter temperatures. In northern locations, the plant dies back to the ground with the onset of cold weather in the fall, then comes back the next year. In very hot summer weather combined with extreme humidity, the plants can decline. Climates with mild and damp winters are also not good growing conditions for thyme.

Fertilizer

There is no need to fertilize thyme. Excess fertilizer can weaken the plant and render culinary thyme rather flavorless. At the most, scatter some composts around the plant in the early spring as the new growing season starts.

Pruning

Thyme becomes woody with age so it’s needs some rejuvenating. After the bloom or in mid-summer, cut the entire plant back by about one-third, which encourages a new flush of fresh growth.

Potting and Repotting Thyme

Culinary thyme in particular is an excellent candidate for container-growing because it allows you to keep it handy near the kitchen. To give the plant room to expand, choose a large container of at least one gallon and make sure it has large drainage holes. Fill it with well-draining potting mix and plant the thyme in the pot so that the root ball is above the soil line, not below. Keep in mind that, unlike thyme in the garden, a potted plant needs regular watering. Also, although many thyme varieties are winter-hardy in cold climates, containers expose the plant’s roots to the cold. This can damage or kill the plant. Always leave the container outdoors year-round but winterize the pot by sinking it into the ground or by placing in it in a second, larger pot to create a planting silo to protect the roots from the cold.

If your potted thyme still looks good after a year or two when it has outgrown its current pot, repot it to a larger pot with fresh potting mix. Oftentimes, however, thyme becomes woody after a couple of seasons and it makes more sense to start with a fresh plant.

Pests and Problems 

Thyme is not commonly affected by serious pests and diseases. Occasionally you might find aphids or spider mites on the plants. In wet soils, the plants can get root rot.

How to Propagate Thyme

Propagating thyme from seed is often unsuccessful because of slow germination and low germination rates. Dividing existing plants or layering is a better option. In the spring, just as the new growth starts, dig up the entire plant and divide it into smaller sections. Make sure each section has a good amount of roots attached to it. Plant the sections at the same depth as the original plant and keep them well-watered until they are established.

To propagate thyme by layering, select a few stems long enough to easily bend down to the ground. Remove the leaves and entirely cover the stems with soil. Gently tamp down the soil and water it lightly. Keep it evenly moist. When you see new growth emerging from the bent stems, carefully remove the soil in a couple of spots to see if roots have formed. If there is a good amount of roots along the stem, sever the stem from the mother plant with sharp pruners. Transplant it into a pot or to a new location in the garden.

Harvesting

The best time to harvest thyme is in the morning, just after the dew has dried. When using thyme in dishes, it is best to use only the leaves because the stems are generally woody and tough.

If you are planning on drying thyme for use in winter months, it is best to cut and hang the stems upside down in small bunches. Let thyme dry fully in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated area. Then store it in an airtight container in a dark, cool place.

Types of Thyme

Mother of Thyme

Thymus praecox, known as mother of thyme, creeping thyme, or wooly thyme, is a low-growing creeping thyme that resembles wooly thyme with greener foliage. It grows 2-3 inches tall and 8-12 inches wide. It requires full sun and excellent drainage to perform well in the garden. There are several cultivars, including ‘Bressingham’ (shown here) which is covered with hot pink blooms in late spring that age to soft pink. Zones 4-9.

'Elfin' Thyme

This miniature thyme is a cultivar of Thymus serpyllum, commonly called wild thyme. It forms a tight mat of fine foliage that tolerates occasional foot traffic, making it a perfect solution for planting between flagstones. It grows just 1-2 inches tall and gradually spreads to 8-12 inches wide. Lilac-purple flowers are produced in early summer. Zones 4-9.

English Thyme

Thymus vulgaris, also known as French thyme, garden thyme, or common thyme, is the classic culinary thyme. It has an upright, bushy growth habit and reaches 12 to 18 inches in height.

Varigated Lemon Thyme

Thymus x citriodorus 'Variegata' is a beautiful edible ornamental. The lemon-scented foliage is versatile in the kitchen and the plant itself makes a striking ground cover for sunny spots. When mature, the plants can grow 16 inches tall and wide. Zones 5-9.

Gold Lemon Thyme

Golden-edged, lemony-flavored leaves serve up bold flavor for Thymus x citriodorus 'Aureus'. The plant has a mounding, bushy growth habit and grows about 12 inches tall.

'Spicy Orange' Thyme

This low-growing cultivar of Thymus x citriodorus is tough enough to withstand foot traffic. The needle-like foliage is aromatic with a light orange scent and flavor. It has pink flowers in summer and grows 12 inches tall and wide. Zones 5-9.

Garden Plans for Thyme

Classic Herb Garden Plan

Ensure your kitchen is always stocked with fresh herbs with this classic herb garden plan, where ten kinds of hers surround a decorative sundial in a 6-foot-diameter bed.

Colorful Herb Garden Plan

Get an herb garden that dazzles with this colorful plan, where a 3x8-foot border features foliage with purple, green, and golden hues—including variegated leaves.