WHAT THYME IS IT? A look at this herb’s varieties and values
by Kristine Oksenholt/Victoria County Master Gardener
February 8, 2025
CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS Thyme
Thyme
Ground Thyme and Thyme
The herb thyme has over 300 varieties, many of which have interesting characteristics and scents. Under certain conditions it can be grown outside or inside.
There have been many uses of thyme documented throughout history. It has been found that a certain component in thyme is a value in helping people stay healthy.
Thyme’s botanical name is Thymus vulgaris and it is in the family of mint (Lamiaceae). It is a woody, low growing, herbaceous perennial. Thyme is a Mediterranean herb with tiny green leaves and tiny pink, lavender or white flowers which appear in spring or summer. These are some popular thyme varieties to grow: Caraway (caraway seed scent); Creeping; Mother of Thyme; Garden; English; Common; German; Juniper; Lemon (lemon scent); Lime (lime scent); Orange (orange scent); and Wooly (furry foliage).
Thyme loves full sun and heat. If grown indoors, put the pot of thyme near a sunny window. It dislikes getting “wet feet”. Thyme is susceptible to gray mold and root rot. Thyme may be fertilized with a little bit of organic matter in early spring.
Thyme is hard to grow from seeds as it has a slow and uneven germination. When ground temperature reaches about 70 degrees, the thyme cuttings or young plants may be planted in well-drained soil about nine inches apart.
Thyme, depending on variety, grows about six to twelve inches tall. Harvest thyme by cutting off the top five or six inches leaving the woody parts. Do this before the plant has flowers. Harvest in the morning once the dew has dried off the plant. If the leaves are clean, do not wash or it will take some of the essential oil away.
In USDA Zones 5 through 9, thyme is very hardy and will return year after year in the right conditions. Protecting thyme with a thick layer of mulch in colder climates will help it to survive during the winter. Even though Victoria, Texas is in Zone 9A and 9B the unexpected cold snaps, including snow, are extremely hard on plants and gardeners have to be vigilant.
Historically, thyme has been used for its culinary, medicinal and symbolic attributes. It was used as a spice in many cultures including English, Southern French, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern. Ancient Egyptians used thyme in the embalming procedure. Thyme oils were used by the ancient Greeks and Romans for its antiseptic properties.
Constituents of thyme oils were used to treat oral abscesses and inflammation by dentists in the nineteenth century AD. Thyme has some symbolic references. Roman soldiers felt that bathing in thyme before leaving for battle would make them courageous. In medieval Europe, wild thyme was used to attract fairies, particularly at Midsummer’s Eve which is celebrated around June twenty third.
A 2023 study was done on people with high blood pressure which revealed that thyme herbs can reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure and get those the levels to stay within the standard range.
Another medicinal property of thyme is that it contains thymol, which is a substance that can destroy harmful organisms like infectious bacteria. The microbial effects of thyme oil have been noted to prevent foodborne bacterial and fungi infections from developing on food. It may help to protect foods from the following list of bacteria: Salmonella; Staphylococcus aureus; Streptococcus bovis; and E. coli which can cause food poisoning.
Thyme is an herb which can be added to a variety of foods. Thyme tea has the ability to help keep blood pressure stable. Thyme oil has antiseptic properties and is in many mouthwashes and kitchen cleaners.
Time to choose your thyme wisely.
Gardeners’ Dirt articles are published in The Victoria Advocate each Saturday.