417 · Thyme, Common (English)

About this plant

Tiny, gray-green leaves on wiry stems carrying a warm, earthy, faintly minty flavor that infuses slowly. Add sprigs to soups, beans, roasted vegetables, and braises early in cooking, then fish out the woody stems. A low, drought-tolerant perennial that thrives in sun and lean, fast-draining soil; shear it lightly after bloom to keep it from turning woody.

Planting it at home

When to plant out

Wait until after our last frost (about mid-February) and warm soil — usually March. Until then keep the pot in a sunny, sheltered spot and bring it in on cold nights.

Where

Containers, Raised bed, Xeriscape

Spacing

12"

Size

6–12"

Care

Sun

Full sun (6–8 h)

Water

Moderate; let topsoil dry

Feed

Light feeding only; too much fertilizer weakens the flavor (general guide).

Good to know

Grown from

Seed — sown by FHCG volunteers

Uses

Soups, beans, roast veggies, braises

Harvest

Snip sprigs

Life cycle

Perennial

Heirloom or hybrid

Heirloom — saved seeds grow true

Pollinators

High — nectar attracts bees and butterflies

Heat (our summer)

Moderate–High