Thyme

Walk across a carpet of thyme, and you will understand why European settlers brought it to the United States and why it continues to be one of the most beloved herbs in the garden. The aroma is warm and exotic; the foliage is finely textured. While some selections of thyme are essential in the kitchen, others are among the most appealing herbs for landscaping. The upright types grow into small shrubs, while the creeping ones contain a variety of flower and foliage colors. Thyme is evergreen throughout much of the South?you can harvest culinary types for soups, stews, stocks, bouquets garnis, vegetables, and meat dishes all winter long.

In the Landscape
No matter what the season, thyme puts on a show. Its evergreen foliage provides anchor in an herb garden in winter and varies in color from dark green to silver and gold to variegated. In early spring, the flowers open, sprinkling the plant with spots of white, pink, lavender, or rose.

Use shrublike upright selections in borders or as small hedges. Plant creeping selections as edgings or ground covers, between paving stones, or along rock walls. No other herb serves to soften hard lines or angles as well as thyme does. Thyme also makes an ideal container plant. It is drought tolerant and thrives in the superior soil and good drainage provided in a container.

Planting and Care
Thyme does best in full sun to partial shade, but not in deep shade. It is easiest to start from transplants set out in the fall or in spring as soon as the soil warms. Seeds of most selections do not germinate easily and are difficult to handle because of their small size.

Plant thyme in light, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.7. Add a slow-release fertilizer to the soil before or during planting and again each spring. Thyme must have excellent drainage to succeed in the South. Mulch to conserve moisture, but add a ring of builder's sand around the crown to prevent root rot. With a layer of protective mulch, most selections of upright thyme are cold hardy through Zone 5. However, do not mulch mat-forming types or they will rot.

Propagate thyme by stem cuttings or by divisions in fall or early spring. Creeping selections can also be propagated by layering.

Given proper growing conditions, thyme will need little care besides a regular light pruning, starting in the spring, to prevent it from becoming woody and brittle. Prune upright selections by one-third in spring to keep them shapely. Creeping types often become ragged in winter; if this happens, cut them back to the ground in late winter before spring growth begins.