Will thyme survive a UK winter?

Yes, in most of the UK with good drainage. Thyme is RHS H5 (−10 to −15°C) and tolerates the cold itself. What kills it is waterlogged roots — heavy clay holding water around the crown in cold wet winters. Plant in raised beds, gravel gardens, between paving slabs, or in containers; sharp drainage is more important than insulation.

Can I grow thyme between paving slabs?

Excellent position for it. Creeping thymes (Thymus serpyllum, T. praecox) tolerate light foot traffic and release their fragrance when crushed. Plant in the gaps between slabs with extra grit worked into the soil. They form weed-suppressing carpets and need almost no maintenance. Common thyme is too upright for paving but works alongside it.

What's the difference between common, lemon and creeping thyme?

Common thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is the standard kitchen thyme — upright, grey-green, strong savoury flavour. Lemon thyme (Thymus citriodorus) has a citrus note that suits fish, chicken, and Mediterranean dishes. Creeping thymes (Thymus serpyllum, T. praecox) are low-growing mat-formers used between paving and as ground cover; they're edible but with a weaker flavour. Grow common thyme for cooking; the others for variety and ground cover.

When is the best time to pick thyme?

Year-round for everyday cooking; most flavourful just before flowering in May–June. Pick whole sprigs about 7–10 cm long from the soft top growth. Don't strip a plant — leave plenty of growth to support it. In winter, pick sparingly; cold-damaged shoots happen if you over-pick.

Cut sprigs in dry weather just before flowering. Tie loose bundles of 6–8 sprigs with string and hang upside down in a warm dry place for 2–3 weeks. Strip the leaves once fully dry; store in airtight jars away from light. Thyme dries better than most herbs and keeps its flavour for a year.

Why has my thyme gone woody and bare in the middle?

Age and lack of pruning. After 3–5 years, thyme gets woody at the base and dies out in the centre. Annual light pruning after flowering delays this; without it, the plant declines faster. The fix is replacement — take cuttings or layer low branches in summer, root them over winter, and plant out fresh stock the following spring. Common thyme rarely lives more than 6–7 years.

Tymianek pospolity

Thymus vulgaris

Plant thyme in spring or autumn as a young plant; seed is possible but slow and unreliable. Thyme is hardy (RHS H5) and shrugs off UK winters as long as it has drainage — like rosemary, the killer is cold wet roots, not cold itself. Plant in full sun, ideally between paving slabs or in a raised bed of gritty soil. Common thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is the kitchen standard; lemon thyme adds citrus to chicken and fish; creeping thyme makes edible carpets between paving. Pick sprigs year-round; the flavour is strongest just before flowering in May–June. Cut back lightly after flowering to keep the plant compact. Slugs love young plants — protect for the first season; established thyme is robust.

View full growing guide →