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Thyme care
Thymus vulgaris · Lamiaceae
Also called Common thyme, Garden thyme, English thyme.
A small, woody-based evergreen herb from the dry hillsides of Spain, France and Italy, with tiny grey-green aromatic leaves and pale lilac flowers. It forms a mound 15 to 30 cm tall and grows well in a pot on a sunny windowsill, as long as the soil drains fast and is allowed to dry out between waterings.
Light
Full SunWatering
WeeklyDifficulty
MediumPets
Non-toxic to cats and dogsHeight indoors
15-30 cm
Growth
Moderate
TemperatureUnconfirmed
13-21 °C
Not below 5 °C
HumidityUnconfirmed
30% - 50%
Fine in dry rooms
Soil pH
6.0-8.0
Neutral soil
Native to
- Spain
- France
- Italy
Through the year
Let the top of the potting mix dry out before watering, then water thoroughly and let the pot drain. Wet soil rots the roots, so water less in winter.
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Spring
WeeklyTrim it lightly, repot if roots come through the drainage hole and take cuttings.
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Summer
WeeklyKeep it in full sun, harvest regularly and trim after flowering.
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Autumn
Every 2 weeksWater less often and move it to the brightest window as the days shorten.
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Winter
Every 2 weeksKeep the mix on the dry side, give it plenty of light and some air movement.
Feeding
Every 2 weeks in spring and summer. A water-soluble feed mixed weaker than usual; feeding more than that tends to dull its taste and scent.
Care tips
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Give it at least 6 hours of sun
A south-facing window works best; otherwise use a grow light for 14 to 16 hours a day.
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Use grit in the mix
Add horticultural grit, up to a quarter of the volume, to a soil-based compost so water drains quickly.
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Harvest little and often
Snipping young shoots keeps the plant compact; the flavour is strongest just before it flowers.
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Never cut into old wood
Trim only the soft green growth, as bare woody stems may not resprout.
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Start new plants from cuttings
Shrubby thymes get straggly after a few years; root soft cuttings in spring to replace them.
Common problems
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Root rot
What you seeStems brown and wilt from the base while the potting mix stays damp.
What to doRepot into gritty, free-draining mix in a pot with drainage holes and water only once the top has dried.
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Leggy, woody growth
What you seeLong bare stems with leaves only at the tips, often in low light or on older plants.
What to doMove it to the sunniest window or under a grow light, trim lightly after flowering and replace plants that have gone woody.
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Aphids
What you seeClusters of small soft insects on shoot tips, with sticky leaves.
What to doSnip off infested shoots and rinse the plant; wash leaves well before eating them.
Pets
Is thyme safe for cats and dogs?
Non-toxic to cats and dogs. Listed by the ASPCA as non-toxic to cats, dogs and horses.
Good to know
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Its name may come from the Greek for courage, and in medieval times thyme was a symbol of bravery.
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Its tiny grey-green leaves have edges that curl under.
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Thyme is a core ingredient of both bouquet garni and herbes de Provence.
