Product Field NotesHerb Plants
English Thyme: The Classic Cooking Herb for Lavender's Border
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English thyme is the everyday cooking thyme: a low, bushy, woody-based herb with tiny dark gray-green leaves and a warm, sharp scent. In late spring the stem tips cover themselves in tiny lilac flowers that bees work heavily.
Of all the kitchen herbs, this is one of the best roommates for lavender. They come from the same kind of sunny, rocky ground and want the same lean treatment.
English thyme at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Thymus vulgaris |
| Leaves | Dark gray-green, tiny and linear with rolled edges; evergreen |
| Flowers | Pale purple to lilac, sometimes white or pink, tiny |
| Size | 6 to 12 inches tall, 6 to 16 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts late May, peaks mid-June |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 5a to 9b |
| Water | Low |
| Wildlife | Great for pollinators; deer resistant |
A true bed partner for lavender
Many herbs need more water than lavender, but thyme is not one of them. It tolerates heat, drought and shallow, rocky soil, and it dislikes wet ground just as much as lavender does. Plant it along the front edge of a lavender bed, between lavender mounds in a gravel garden or tucked into the gaps of a sunny stone wall.
The pairing is pretty, too. Thyme's lilac flowers open in late May and June, just before the lavender spikes, and its low gray-green mat makes a soft skirt below lavender's taller silver foliage. Arrange the bed in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Soil: sharply drained. Sandy, gravelly or raised beds are ideal. Root rot in wet soil is the main risk.
- Water: while plugs root in, then only in long dry spells.
- Feeding: none needed. Lean soil gives the best flavor.
- Trimming: shear lightly after bloom to keep the plant compact, staying in the leafy growth.
- Winter: winter wet is more of a threat than cold. A loose mulch after the ground freezes helps.
- Renewal: English thyme tends to be short-lived and woody after a few years, so plan to replace plants every few years.
Harvesting and using thyme
Leaves are most aromatic just before bloom, but you can snip sprigs any time the plant is growing. Use them fresh or dried in soups, stews, sauces, roasted meats and fish. Thyme dries beautifully on the stem: tie small bunches and hang them in a shaded, airy spot, the same way you dry lavender. Once crisp, strip the leaves and store them in a jar.
Sizes offered
English thyme comes as 3-inch plugs, 4-inch pots and 1-gallon pots. Plugs are an easy way to edge a long lavender row. See the product page for current sizes and availability.
Frequently asked questions
Will English thyme survive a Michigan winter?
It is hardy to zone 5a when the soil drains well. Wet winter soil, not cold, is what usually kills it.
Is it the same as creeping thyme?
No. English thyme is a small, upright bush grown for cooking. Creeping thymes are lower groundcovers.
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