Also known as Thyme · 1.3k gardener saves
Thymus: the varieties gardeners actually grow
Thymus, the genus most gardeners know as thyme. We track 23 varieties; these are the ones gardeners actually save and plant, ranked by real saves rather than catalog marketing. Each links to full care, bloom, and live price data.
The 12 most-saved Thymus varieties
Of 23 in the catalog — ordered by how many gardeners actually grow them.
#1 most savedElfin Creeping Thyme
Thymus serpyllum 'Elfin'
#2 most savedRed Creeping Thyme
Thymus thymus 'Coccineus'
#3 most savedMagic Carpet Thyme
Thymus serpyllum 'Magic Carpet'
Annie Hall Creeping Thyme
Thymus serpyllum 'Annie Hall'
Culinary Thyme
Thymus vulgaris 'Culinary Thyme'
Woolly Thyme
Thymus lanuginosus
Common Thyme Garden Thyme
Thymus vulgaris
Silver Posie Thyme
Thymus citriodorus 'Silver Posie'
Archer's Gold Thyme
Thymus vulgaris 'Archer's Gold'
Japanese Thyme
Thymus quinquecostatus
Pink Chintz Thyme
Thymus x citriodorus 'Pink Chintz'
Golden Lemon Thyme
Thymus citriodorus 'Golden Lemon'
Browse all 23 Thymus varieties →
How to grow Thymus
What the Thymus varieties in our catalog actually agree on — drawn from the care records of the 23 most-grown of them, not from a generic template.
The Thymus year
- PruneJuly100% of varieties
Shear lightly after flowering to maintain a dense, tidy mat
- HarvestApril–September74% of varieties
Harvest stems and leaves throughout the season, best before flowering
- PlantMarch, April and September52% of varieties
Plant in spring or fall in well-drained soil
- Spring CleanupFebruary52% of varieties
Rake out any dead patches or winter debris
- DivideMarch and September39% of varieties
Divide every 3-5 years if the center becomes woody or sparse
Do
- Water moderately, allowing soil to dry between watering 🌱
- Prune after flowering to maintain shape
- Provide full sun for optimal growth
- Prune after flowering to encourage bushiness
- Use well-draining soil to prevent root rot
Avoid
- Avoid overwatering, which can cause root rot ❌
- Avoid overwatering to prevent root rot ❌
- Overwater to avoid root rot ❌
- Don’t plant in poorly drained soil
What goes wrong with Thymus
| Problem | What you'll see | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Aphids | Sticky residue and distorted leaves | Spray with insecticidal soap |
| Spider mites | Fine webbing on foliage | Spray with a strong jet of water and apply insecticidal soap |
| Spider Mites | Fine webbing on undersides of leaves | Spray with miticide or insecticidal soap |
| Root rot | Wilting and brown roots | Improve drainage and reduce watering |
| Root rot | Wilting and yellowing leaves | Improve soil drainage and reduce watering |
| Powdery mildew | White powder on leaves | Apply organic fungicide and improve airflow |
| Root Rot | Wilting, yellowing leaves, soft roots | Improve drainage, reduce watering, remove infected parts |
Making more Thymus
Cuttings
- Take 3-inch cuttings in late summer
- Dip in rooting hormone
- Plant in well-drained soil
- Keep moist for 4 weeks
Seed
- Sow seeds on soil surface in early spring
- Keep soil moist for 6 weeks
- Thin seedlings to 3 inches apart
Thymus questions
How many types of Thymus are there?
The Sow catalog tracks 23 distinct Thymus varieties. The most popular — ranked by 1.3k real gardener saves — are shown first above.
What zones does Thymus grow in?
Across its varieties, Thymus covers USDA Zones 4–10. Individual varieties differ — each plant page lists its exact range, and Sow filters the catalog to your zone automatically.
When does Thymus bloom?
Most Thymus varieties bloom in early summer, late spring, mid-summer. Staggering early, mid, and late varieties extends the genus's season in one bed.
Which Thymus should I choose?
Start from the most-saved varieties above — popularity across thousands of gardens is a strong signal of reliability — then filter by your zone and sun. In the Sow app you can preview any of them in a photo of your actual yard before you buy.
Keep exploring
More on Thymus
Thymus shows up in
By hardiness zone
Design with Thymus in your own yard
Snap a photo of your space and see these varieties planted in it — sized correctly, matched to your zone, with care reminders included.
