A Visual Guide to Identifying and Growing Thyme

With its petite leaves and pleasing aroma thyme is a beloved herb for many chefs and home gardeners. But with over 100 varieties it can be tricky to distinguish different types of thyme plants. This article will help you identify thyme through photos and provide tips for cultivating these versatile herbs yourself.

Common Thyme

The most popular thyme is common thyme (Thymus vulgaris). This hardy perennial features tiny gray-green leaves on woody stems reaching 8-12 inches tall. Mauve or pink flowers bloom in summer. It’s easy to grow in full sun and well-drained soil. Use common thyme fresh or dried to flavor meats, vegetables, and more.

Lemon Thyme

Lemon thyme (Thymus x citriodorus) has a pronounced lemony fragrance. Its leaves are green with a yellow tinge. Growing 12 inches tall, lemon thyme makes an attractive spreading groundcover with pink or white blooms. It enhances seafood, chicken veggies, and herb butters. Lemon thyme needs full sun and moderate water.

Creeping Thyme

Creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum) is a low-growing species under 6 inches tall. It forms dense, attractive mats with tiny rounded leaves and purple or pink flowers. There are many creeping thyme varieties perfect for walkways, rock gardens, and between stones. Creeping thyme thrives in full sun and requires minimal water once established.

Caraway Thyme

Caraway thyme (Thymus herba-barona) has thicker, more pungent leaves than common thyme. Rosy blooms appear in early summer. It grows up to 18 inches tall and does best in average to drier conditions. Use caraway thyme sparingly since it has a stronger, more dominating flavor.

Silver Thyme

Silver thyme (Thymus vulgaris ‘Argenteus’) brightens gardens and containers with its variegated leaves edged in white. Showy lavender flowers appear in summer. At 12 inches tall, it works nicely as an ornamental border or groundcover. Provide full sun and moderate water. Silver thyme enhances poultry, fish, beans, pasta and more.

French Thyme

French thyme (Thymus vulgaris ‘French’) is a dwarf variety under 6 inches tall. Its petite leaves pack robust flavor perfect for stews, soups and roasted veggies. French thyme remains compact with light purple summer blooms. Grow it in full sun with average moisture and good drainage for the best flavor.

German Winter Thyme

German winter thyme (Thymus vulgaris ‘Deutscher Winter’) reliably returns after cold winters when some other thymes struggle. Gray-green leaves reach 2 inches long. Mauve flowers appear in early summer. It grows 6-8 inches tall. Use German winter thyme to season meats, broths, and hearty dishes all winter long in zones 5-9.

Woolly Thyme

Woolly thyme (Thymus pseudolanuginosus) forms a thick carpet of fuzzy gray-green leaves hugging the ground. Tiny pink blooms add color in early summer. A rugged plant that needs little care, woolly thyme handles light foot traffic and drought. Its flavorsome leaves enhance lean meats and vegetables.

Orange Balsam Thyme

Orange balsam thyme (Thymus x citriodorus ‘Orange Balsam’) smells strongly of sweet oranges. The 6-inch tall plant has broad green leaves with a hint of gold edge variegation. Lavender flowers appear in summer. As one of the most cold hardy thymes, it returns reliably with rich citrus notes perfect for seafood or desserts.

Spicy Orange Thyme

Spicy orange thyme (Thymus x citriodorus ‘Spicy Orange’) provides bursts of orange and ginger flavors. Dark green leaves reach 1 inch long on 4-6 inch tall plants. Violet flowers add summertime color. Use spicy orange thyme to season pork, chicken, root vegetables, and baked goods. Site in full sun with average moisture.

Identifying Thyme Plants

When identifying thyme in your garden, look for:

• Small rounded or oblong leaves less than 1 inch long
• Woody stems that get bushy and dense as the plant matures
• Leaf colors in various hues of green, sometimes with variegation
• Clusters of tiny pink, purple, or white blooms in summer
• An aroma you can’t resist rubbing between your fingers to release

How to Grow Thyme from Seed

Growing thyme from seed takes patience, but watching those first tiny seedlings emerge is rewarding. Follow these tips for success:

• Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost.

• Press seeds into well-draining seed starting mix. Cover lightly with 1/8 inch soil.

• Maintain soil temperature of 70°F until germination.

• Once seedlings appear, move to a sunny window. Transplant outside after hardening off.

• Space plants 8-12 inches apart in full sun and fertile, dry, well-drained soil.

• Water regularly until established, then practice good drainage and moderate water needs.

With their delicate appearance and robust herbal flavors, thyme plants are prized additions to gardens and kitchens. Now that you know how to identify the many varieties of thyme and grow it successfully from seed, you can enjoy homegrown thyme flowers and leaves fresh or dried to add its signature aroma and taste to your favorite recipes.