Plant Details

Thymus vulgaris

Common Thyme, Garden thyme, Wild Thyme

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Common names

42 names · 28 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Common Thyme[1]
  • Garden thyme[1]
  • Wild Thyme
Other languages (27)
Dutch
  • Echte tijm[1]
  • Gewone tijm
  • Keukentijm
French
  • farigoule[1]
  • Thym
  • thym commun[1]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • thym cultivé[1]
Arpetan
Catalan
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 花园百里香[1]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 花園百里香[1]
Czech
  • mateřídouška obecná[1]
  • tymián[1]
Danish
  • Have-timian[1]
Estonian
  • aed-liivatee[1]
  • tüümian[1]
Finnish
German
  • Echter Thymian[1]
Greek
  • Θυμάρι[1]
Hebrew
  • בת-קורנית פשוטה[1]
Hungarian
  • kerti kakukkfű[1]
Italian
  • Timo maggiore[1]
Japanese
  • タイム[1]
  • タチジャコウソウ[1]
  • フォックスリータイム[1]
Kweyol
Laadan
Norwegian
  • kryddertimian[1]
Polish
  • Macierzanka tymianek[1]
  • Macierzanka zwyczajna[1]
  • Tymianek właściwy[1]
Portuguese
Russian
  • Тимьян обыкновенный[1]
Slovak
  • materina dúška obyčajná[1]
Spanish
Swedish
  • kryddtimjan[1]
Thai
  • ไทม์ธรรมดา[1]
Turkish
  • Bahçe Kekiği[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Thymus vulgaris — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • common thyme — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 85469; Thymus vulgaris.
  • garden thyme — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 85469; Thymus vulgaris.
  • tomillo — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 85469; Thymus vulgaris.
  • tomilho — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 85469; Thymus vulgaris.
  • farigola — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 85469; Thymus vulgaris.
  • thym commun — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 85469; Thymus vulgaris.
  • farigoule — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 85469; Thymus vulgaris.
  • thym cultivé — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 85469; Thymus vulgaris.
  • mateřídouška obecná — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 85469; Thymus vulgaris.
  • echte tijm — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 85469; Thymus vulgaris.
  • タチジャコウソウ — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 85469; Thymus vulgaris.
  • kryddertimian — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 85469; Thymus vulgaris.
  • kryddtimjan — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 85469; Thymus vulgaris.
  • Echter Thymian — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 85469; Thymus vulgaris.
  • タイム — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 85469; Thymus vulgaris.
  • timjami — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 85469; Thymus vulgaris.
  • Θυμάρι — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 85469; Thymus vulgaris.
  • aed-liivatee — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 85469; Thymus vulgaris.
  • tüümian — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 85469; Thymus vulgaris.
  • diten — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 85469; Thymus vulgaris.
  • Тимьян обыкновенный — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 85469; Thymus vulgaris.
  • háami — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 85469; Thymus vulgaris.
  • tymián — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 85469; Thymus vulgaris.
  • 花园百里香 — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 85469; Thymus vulgaris.
  • Have-timian — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 85469; Thymus vulgaris.
  • timó — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 85469; Thymus vulgaris.
  • 花園百里香 — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 85469; Thymus vulgaris.
  • בת-קורנית פשוטה — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 85469; Thymus vulgaris.
  • Macierzanka tymianek — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 85469; Thymus vulgaris.
  • Tymianek właściwy — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 85469; Thymus vulgaris.
  • Macierzanka zwyczajna — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 85469; Thymus vulgaris.
  • kerti kakukkfű — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 85469; Thymus vulgaris.
  • Timo maggiore — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 85469; Thymus vulgaris.
  • ไทม์ธรรมดา — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 85469; Thymus vulgaris.
  • フォックスリータイム — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 85469; Thymus vulgaris.
  • materina dúška obyčajná — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 85469; Thymus vulgaris.
  • Sarieula — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 85469; Thymus vulgaris.
  • Bahçe Kekiği — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 85469; Thymus vulgaris.

General information

Scientific name: Thymus vulgaris
Accepted name (Kew): Thymus vulgaris L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Lamiaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Thymus (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Common Thyme, Garden thyme, Wild Thyme
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.15–0.3 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 0.15–0.41 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Moderate
Sources [3]
Foliage: Evergreen
Sources [3]
Growth habit: Spreading

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]
Life cycle: Perennial
Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist, Occasionally Dry

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow Rocky
Sources [3]
pH:
Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Full sun
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, Tea, Condiment
Edibility rating:
(4)
Medicinal rating:
(3)
Functions:
Cosmetic use, Essential oil, Fungicide, Repellent, Bee forage, Ground cover, Fragrant

Description

Leaves and flowering tips of this plant can be added raw to salads as a garnish, or used as a flavoring in cooked dishes, particularly delicious with mushrooms and zucchini. They are an essential ingredient in the herb blend 'bouquet garni' and retain their flavor well when slow-cooked. The leaves can be used both fresh and dried. If you dry them, it is best to harvest the plants in early or late summer, just before the flowers open, and dry the leaves quickly. Nutritional analysis available. A spicy herbal tea can also be made from these leaves.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/06
Harvest ends: 30/09

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1109380; name ID 204357; Thymus L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 223157; name ID 205645; Thymus vulgaris L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Thymus vulgaris

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 1384062, ID 56RHL: Thymus vulgaris L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Thymus vulgaris — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 4 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .