How to Grow Thyme
This article is part of our “How to Grow Herbs” series. If you would like to learn more about how to work with this plant after you harvest it, please refer to our Herbal Aromatherapy Certification Program™ here.
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is a low-growing perennial herb in the mint family. There are thought to be at least 350 species of thyme and there are also numerous varietals. The species most employed in the kitchen, herbalism and aromatherapy is T. vulgaris, though it is not uncommon for other species to be used interchangeably. Thymus x citriodorus – lemon thyme – is one with which you may also be familiar.
Propagation
Thyme can be grown from seed or propagated via division or root cuttings. If you are growing the plants from seed, sow them in early spring and lightly cover the seeds, which are very small. Keep evenly moist until germination. When the plants have several sets of true leaves, you can transfer them into the garden.
Growing Requirements
Thyme plants do best in full sun in soil that is not too heavy or boggy and that drains well. If the soil does not drain well, it can cause the plant to lose some of its potency. I have also found that thyme can grow well in partial sun and that it grows nicely with other culinary herbs like oregano, chives, cilantro and parsley. Thymes generally like Mediterranean growing conditions, so they will do well in places where lavender and rosemary grow well.
Plant Spacing
Thyme spreads a little bit, though much more slowly than some of the other mint family plants. I like to give the plants a little bit of room and tend to plant them at least a foot apart, though you could double that space. They also perform well when slightly crowded, but tend to stay smaller.
Plant Hardiness
Most species of thyme are hardy to USDA zones 5 or 6, though there are a few that prefer zone 7 or even warmer. Check to see which species do especially well where you live and try growing those. If you live in a colder area, you may want to grow your thyme in a container and bring it in to a protected area over winter.
Learning More
If you would like to learn more about how to work with aromatic plants, I hope you will join me in our Herbal Aromatherapy Certification Program™ here at Floranella! In it, I teach students how to safely and effectively work with over 100 different herbs as well as their applicable essential oils and hydrosols from the garden to the still to the apothecary. I hope to see you in class one day!
About the Author
Hi there, I’m Erin! I am the main instructor here at Floranella. I am a clinical herbalist, aromatherapist, artisan distiller and organic gardener based in the Pacific Northwest. Here at Floranella, I teach people how to work with plants safely and effectively from the garden to the apothecary. Thanks for being here! I’m glad you stopped by.
