Thyme
Thymus vulgaris
Thyme is a perennial for edging, groundcover, suited to full sun and loam, sandy soil or chalk, flowering Jun, Jul, Aug.
| Type | Perennial |
|---|---|
| Mature height | 30 cm |
| Spread | 40 cm |
| Aspect | full sun |
| Foliage | Evergreen |
| Hardiness | USDA 5a-9a, RHS H4 |
| Pollinator-friendly | Yes |
| Pet-safe | Yes |
Where to use it in a border
At around 30 cm, it sits best along the front edge, where a low, spreading habit reads best. Give it about 40 cm of room to spread, roughly 2 to the metre when planted in a drift. It is hardy across USDA zones 5a to 9a and rated H4 by the RHS, so check it suits your area before planting.
It appears in our lists of full sun, sandy soil, chalk soil, evergreen plants, pollinator-friendly plants, pet-safe plants.
Border Builder uses Thyme's height, spread, soil, bloom months and companions to place it in a full border plan for your own conditions, on iPhone and iPad.
Flowering through the year
Worth knowing
- Evergreen, so it keeps the border furnished through winter.
- Its flowers are valued by bees and other pollinators.
Good companions
Plants that share its conditions and style, chosen to complement its place in the border:
- Carthusian pinkto edge in front
- Catmintto edge in front
- Catmint 'Six Hills Giant'to edge in front
- French marigoldto edge in front
- Hyssop 'Blackadder'to flower when it does not
- Hyssop 'Blue Fortune'for height behind it
Garden styles
Cottage garden Mediterranean Wildlife garden
Sources
Bloom timing and hardiness drawn from: