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.

Common thyme

Thymus vulgaris

herb☀️ full-sun🪴 well drained📏 small🌡️ RHS H5–H6

📋Quick Facts

Height

0.3-0.5m

Spread

0.3-0.5m

Water

💧 Minimal watering

Hardiness

Zone 5-9

About

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.

Top tip

Common thyme likes sun and sharp drainage; avoid heavy feeding and trim lightly after flowering, not into old wood.

Also known as: Tymianek pospolity, Tomilho, Tomillo, Thym commun, Thymus vulgaris, Common thyme, Thymian, Timo comune

How to grow common thyme

1
Buy young plants
Thyme seed germinates slowly and the seedlings are easy to lose. Buy young plants in 9 cm pots — much faster, and you can see what variety you're getting.
2
Choose a hot dry spot
Full sun, well-drained soil. Mediterranean herbs hate UK clay in winter. Raised beds, gravel paths, dry-stone walls, between paving slabs — anywhere drainage is sharp.
3
Plant out
March–April or September–October. Dig in grit if the bed is heavy. Space 30 cm apart for common thyme; 15 cm for creeping types. Water in well.
4
Protect young plants from slugs
Thyme is slug-vulnerable in its first season. Apply nematodes, copper rings, or hand-pick at dusk. Established plants are too woody for slug damage.
5
Pick year-round
Cut sprigs whenever you cook with it. Pick more heavily in May–June (just before flowering) when the oils are strongest. Avoid heavy picking in mid-winter.
6
Cut back after flowering
Shear lightly after flowering (late June–July) to keep the plant compact and force fresh growth. Don't cut into old bare wood; thyme regrows from it but slowly.
7
Replace every 4–5 years
Common thyme gets woody and unproductive after 4–5 years. Take cuttings or layer low branches in summer to have replacements ready.

Common questions

Pest Resilience

5/5 — Highly resilient

Aromatic oils deter most pests; virtually trouble-free.

Companion Planting

Grows well with

Cabbage Tomato Aubergine Rosemary

Visual Characteristics

Fruits

Yes

Harvest: Spring to autumn / fall

🍳

Culinary

Culinary Use

Roast chicken, stews, soups, herb butter, bouquet garni, marinades

The common thyme year in your garden

Dispatching imaginary bots to check your garden out...

What to do now

How to Propagate

🌰Seed

Easy

🔪Division

Easy

✂️Cutting

Moderate

🌿Layering

Moderate

This plant produces viable seeds for propagation

Hardiness Zones

H1a (tender)H7 (very hardy)

H1a

H1b

H1c

RHS H5–H6

USDA 6 equivalent

Common thyme

Common thyme

📋Quick Facts

About

How to grow common thyme

Common questions

Pest Resilience

Companion Planting

Visual Characteristics

The common thyme year in your garden

How to Propagate

Hardiness Zones

Names in Other Languages(7)