Thyme

Thymus
A genus of low, spreading, evergreen perennials that are great for walls, edging lan
Thyme contains thymol which is antiseptic and can be used as a wound herb treating skin diseases such as athletes foot.
Most species of Thyme prefer full sun on well drained soil.
Cut back all varieties often to renovate. Rabbit and deer resistant.
They can be propagated from seed sown during mid-spring for the species. Cuttings and division during early spring for cultivars.

* photos taken on July 13 2013 in Columbia, MD

Thymus caespitatius
A tight cushion forming perennial, reaching a maximum size of 6 inches x 2.5 feet, that is native to the Azores, Portugal and Spain. Great for rock gardens.
The tiny, narrow leaves are intense emerald green.
The sparse pink or white flowers are borne during late spring.
Hardy zones 7 to 9 in full sun to partial shade.

Thymus cilicicus
A low perennial, reaching a maximum size of 6 x 10 inches.
The aromatic leaves are narrow and hairy.
The profuse pink flowers are borne in clusters, up to 0.3 inches across.
Hardy zones 8 to 9

Thymus citriodorus ( Lemon Scented Thyme )
A fast growing, neat, bushy, mat-forming perennial, reaching a maximum size of 1 x 3 + ( rarely over 0.5 ) feet. It is often considered to be the hybrid between Thymus pulegoides & T vulgaris. It is an excellent lawn substitute.
The attractive, brightly variegated, very fragrant, lemon-scented, oval leaves are up to 0.4 inches in length. The glossy deep green, lemon-scented foliage is evergreen to -20 F.
The lavender flowers, up to 0.5 inches wide, are borne during late spring into early summer.
Hardy zones 5 to 9 ( 4 on protected sites ) in full sun to partial shade on very well drained soil. Shear plants after flowering. Drought tolerant, deer and rabbit resistant.

* photo taken on May 18 2011 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken @ U.S. Botanical Garden, Wash., DC on Aug 25 2014

'Archer's Gold'
Very vigorous and low growing, reaching only 2.5 inches in height, with foliage that is intense deep golden-yellow during spring and fall.

'Aureus' ( Gold Edge Thyme )
Reaches a maximum size of 1.3 x 3+ feet. with glossy foliage that is green and variegated with golden-yellow.
The lavender flowers are borne during late spring.

* photo taken on May 18 2011 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Aug 3 2011 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Oct 21 2014 @ U.S. Botanical Gardens, Washington, DC

'Golden King'
Bushy in habit, reaching a maximum size of 10 inches x 3 feet, with striking foliage that is golden-yellow variegated.

'Gold Lemon' ( Golden Variegated Thyme )
Bushy in habit, reaching up to 8 inches x 3 feet, with sweetly-scented, green foliage that is attractively margined yellow. The pink flowers are borne early to mid summer.

* photo taken on May 14 2011 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on July 22 2023 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 10 2023 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Sep 28 2023 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Mar 7 2024 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Mar 28 2024 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on May 7 2024 in Columbia, MD

'Mayfair' ( Lemon Carpet Thyme )
Reaches up to 10 inches in height, with foliage that colors very well during autumn and winter.
Hardier than most other cultivars, as far north as zone 4.

* photo taken on May 12 2023 in Columbia, MD

'Silver Edge' ( Silver Edge Lemon Thyme )
A bushy, upright perennial, reaching up to 12 inches, with sweetly-scented foliage that is gray-green and margined silver.
The pink flowers are borne during early summer.

* photo taken on June 4 2016 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on June 26 2021 in Columbia, MD

Thymus doerfleri
A mat forming perennial, reaching a maximum size of 4 inches x 3.3 feet.
The woolly leaves are gray-green.
The lilac-pink flowers are borne in clusters up to 0.3 inches across.
Hardy zones 5 to 8

'Bressingham Seedling'
Same except with bright pink flowers.

Thymus 'Doone Valley'
A low, creeping, mat-forming Thyme, reaching a maximum size of 6 inches x 1.5 feet.
The deep green foliage develops bright golden-yellow tips during autumn and spring.
During winter the foliage turns bronze-red. The foliage is lemon-scented, even more so than Thymus citriodorus.
The lavender flowers are borne late spring into early summer.
Hardy zones 4 to 9 in full sun to partial shade on light, well drained soil.
Deer and rabbit resistant.

Thymus herba-barona ( Caraway Thyme )
A fast growing, stem rooting, low, mat-forming perennial, reaching a maximum size of 8 inches x 3 + feet, that is native to the Mediterranean Islands of Corsica and Sardinia.
The caraway seed scented foliage is glossy deep green.
The lavender flowers are borne in clusters, up to 3.2 inches in length, during late spring into early summer.
Hardy zones 4 to 8 in full sun to partial shade.

* photo of unknown internet source

Thymus inertus
A semi-prostrate, clump forming perennial, reaching a maximum height of 10 inches, with very aromatic foliage.
Hardy zones 4 to 8 in full sun to partial shade.

Thymus ladjanuricus
A woody-based, mat-forming perenial, reaching up to 3 x 20 inches, that is native to the western Caucasus mountains. This excellent rock garden plant is evergreen in mild climates.
The leaves are tiny, up to 0.8 x 0.1 inches in size.
The pink flowers are borne during mid-spring. Hardy zones 6 to 8 ( 5 on protected sites ) in full sun on very well drained soils. It is very drought tolerant.

Thymus mastichina
An upright perennial, reaching up to 1 foot x 16 inches, that is native to Portugal and Spain.
The aromatic, elliptical leaves are hairy.
The creamy-white flowers are borne in clusters during summer.
Hardy zones 7 to 10

Thymus nitidus ( Sicily Thyme )
Also called Thymus richardii nitidus. A perennial, reaching a maximum size of 8 inches x 1 foot, that is native to Sicily. The aromatic, ovate foliage is gray-green above, hairy beneath.
The very pale pink, tubular flowers are borne in clusters, up to 1.6 inches across, during late spring into early summer.

'Moonlight'
A bushy, mounding perennial, reaching a maximum size of 6 inches x 1 foot.
The foliage is gray and the profuse pale pink flowers are borne late spring into early summer.
Hardy zones 4 to 9 on light, well drained soil.

Thymus pannonicus ( Savory-Scented Thyme )
Also called Hungarian Thyme. A mat-forming perennial, reaching up to 8 inches x 8 feet, that is native from eastern Europe to the Caucasus and southwestern Asia. The stems sometimes layer as they touch the ground.
The leaves, up to 0.8 x 0.25 inches, are luxuriant mid-green.
The abundant, pale pink flowers are borne during early summer. The nectar rich flowers attract honey bees.
Pharmacology: The leaves have anti-sectic properties.
Read very interesting article on this external site http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thymus_pannonicus
Hardy zones 4 to 8 in full sun on dry, very well drained ( preferrably sandy or gravelly ) soil. Wet conditions, especially in winter can kill this plant.

Thymus praecox ( Wild Thyme of Europe )
Also called Thymus serpyllum. A very low, mat-forming perennial, reaching a maximum size of 10 inches x 3.3 + feet, though rarely over 3 inches in height. Excellent for use in rock gardens as well as between stepping stones ( tolerating more foot traffic than other species of Thyme ). It is locally naturalized in eastern North America to as far north as northern Wisconsin, Tobermory and Haliburton, Ontario. It is sometimes found in dense, large patches in the wild.
The narrow foliage is deep green.
The flowers are borne in heads, up to 0.5 inches across, during late spring into early summer ( less commonly sporadically into early autumn ).
Hardy zones 3 to 7 in full sun on well drained soil. Drought tolerant and too much water can actually kill, it also does not enjoy climates that are very hot and humid during summer. Too much water on the foliage over an extended period can cause crown rot to occur rapidly - do not water established plants unless necessary.

* photo taken on May 16 2011 in Washington, D.C.

* photos taken on July 29 2012 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on on July 18 2014 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 31 2015 in Columbia, MD

'Albiflorus' ( Creeping White Thyme )
Also called Thymus serphyllum 'Albus'. A mat forming perennial, reaching a maximum size of 4 inches x 4 feet.
The foliage is luxuriant emerald green.
The pure white flowers are borne late spring into early summer.

* photo taken on June 1 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Sep 22 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on May 7 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on May 9 2022 in Columbia, MD

'Coccineus'
A vigorous, long-lived, dense, mat-forming perennial, reaching a maximum size of 4 inches x 4 feet, with tiny, glossy, very deep green, leathery foliage and deep red flowers borne during early to mid summer.
Great for planting in rock gardens and between stepping stones.
Heat and humidity tolerant for a Thyme.

* photo taken on Aug 14 2024 @ Coventry Gardens, Windsor, ON

'Doretta Klaber'
A very tight, mat-forming perennial, reaching a maximum size of 3 x 8 inches.
The flowers are deep pink.

'Elfin'
A very tight, mat-forming perennial, reaching a maximum size of 2 inches x 1 foot.
The minute foliage is green and the soft pink flowers are sparse.

* photo taken on Aug 2 2013 in Stratford, Ontario

'Hall's Woolly'
A carpet-forming perennial, reaching a maximum height of 3 inches, with soft gray-green foliage and lavender flowers.

'Highland Cream'
A prostrate growing perennial, reaching a maximum size of 3 x 16 inches. The aromatic variegated foliage is golden-yellow and green.
The pale pink flowers are borne during summer.

'Latavin Lucy'
A mat-forming perennial, reaching a maximum height of 3 inches, with luxuriant emerald green foliage and rose-purple flowers.

'Minor'
The tightest, lowest growing cultivar, reaching a maximum size of 0.5 inches x 1.5 feet. Excellent for mixing with flagstones.

'Ohme Garden Carpet'
Very vigorous ( reaching up to 3 inches x 3 feet ) and very heat tolerant, tolerating frequent temperatures above 100 F.
The bright yellow flowers are borne during early summer.

'Pink Chintz'
A vigorous, creeping perennial, reaching a maximum size of 4 inches x 3 feet.
The aromatic foliage is green.
The abundant, rich pink flowers are borne over a long season during summer.
It is among the first Thymes to come into bloom, often during spring.

* photos taken on Aug 12 2011 in Columbia, MD



* photo taken on May 7 2012 in Columbia, MD

'Pseudolanuginosus' ( Woolly Thyme )
Also called Thymus lanuginosus. A very vigorous, mat-forming perennial, reaching a maximum size of 3 inches x 3 feet. It is great for planting between stepping stones.
The tiny, woolly foliage is silvery-gray.
The rosy-purple flowers are borne late spring into early summer.
Hardy zones 2 to 8

* photo taken on May 16 2011 in Columbia, MD

* photo of unknown internet source

* photo taken on Aug 8 2014 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Aug 31 2015 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on July 14 2016 in Tobermory, ON

* photos taken on Jul 19 2017 @ Rideau Hall, Ottawa, ON

* photo taken on Aug 15 2024 in Kincardine, ON

'Purple Carpet'
A dense, mat-forming perennial, reaching a maximum size of 4 inches x 3 feet, with very deep green foliage and purplish-pink flowers.

'Purple Dwarf'
A low, mat-forming perennial, reaching a maximum size of 2 inches x 1.5 feet.
Excellent for mixing with flagstone.
The foliage is green and the flowers are intense scarlet-red.

'Reiter's Red'
A tough, vigorous, mat-forming perennial, reaching a maximum size of 3 inches x 2.5 feet.
The wiry stems bear minute green leaves. The flowers are intense pink-red to red.
Thrives in sun or shade. Can be mowed after blooming.

'Roseum'
Forms a mat of deep green foliage and bright pink flowers.

* photos taken on July 8 2023 in Meaford, ON

'Ruby Glow'
A fast spreading, mat-forming perennial, reaching a maximum height of 6 inches.
The aromatic foliage is green and the flowers are scarlet-red.
Very drought and soil hardy.

Thymus pulegioides ( Lemon Thyme )
A moderate growing perennial, reaching a maximum size of 10 x 40 + inches, that is native to temperate Europe. It has naturalized locally in British Columbia to as far north as Kitsault.
The very aromatic foliage is bright green.
The purplish-pink flowers appear during early summer.
The square stems are deep red.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 in full sun to partial shade on very well drained soil. Drought tolerant.

Thymus quinquecostatus
Among the showiest of all Thyme, forming low mats, reaching a maximum size of 6 x 20 inches, that is native to beaches, sand dunes and rocky slopes in eastern Russia, Mongolia, Manchuria, Korea and Japan.
The narrowly-oblong leaves are up to 0.8 x 0.3 inches in size. The foliage is deep green.
The abundant, large, pink flowers, up to 0.3 inches long, appear during late summer.
Hardy zones 3 to 7 in full sun to partial shade.

'Alba'
Same except with white flowers.

Thymus richardii 'Peter Davis'
Forms a tidy bush, reaching a maximum size of 1 x 1.5 feet.
The small, aromatic leaves are deep green.
Hardy zones 5 to 9 in full sun to partial shade.

Thymus vulgaris ( Culinary Thyme )
A low, bushy perennial, reaching a maximum size of 20 inches x 3 + feet. It is great to grow between stepping stones, along paths and in wall gardens.
The aromatic, tiny, oval leaves are deep green.
The purplish-pink flowers, up to 0.3 inches across, are borne in clusters during most of summer.
Hardy zones 5 to 9 ( 4 on protected sites ) in full sun to partial shade on sandy, well drained soil. Cut back during early spring.

* photo taken on Aug 3 2011 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on June 23 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC

* photos taken on June 19 2023 @ Hershey Gardens, Hershey, PA

'Argenteus'
Very similar except with foliage that is silver edged.

* photos taken on Oct 22 2013 in Towson, MD

* photo taken on Sep 16 2022 in Ellicott City, MD

'Compactus'
A dwarf form

'Silver Posie'
A dwarf, upright form, reaching a maximum height of 8 inches.
The pink stems bear tiny leaves is bright silver edged.
The flowers are lavender-pink.

* photos taken @ Smithsonian Inst, Wash., DC on Aug 25 2014

SIMILAR PLANTS

Paronychia kapela ( Silver Nailwort )
A close relative of Thyme that is native to the Pyrenees Mountains in southern Europe and is exceptionally drought tolerant. It is also much more resistant to fungus's.
It reaches up to 1 inch x 1.5 feet, bearing white flowers during early summer.
Hardy zones 4 to 8 in full sun on well drained soil. Rabbit but not deer resistant.