Thymus spp.
Upright thymes are generally the preference for culinary use (with perhaps a few exceptions) while creeping thymes are more often used ornamentally and as groundcovers. French and English thyme are of course the classic culinary choices but the citrusy cultivars can also add a nice zest to any dish. They are all evergreen shrublets and can be harvested year round. Thymes are famously promiscuous and nomenclature is a bit of a mess so in most cases we've referred to the publications of Margaret Easter (Thymus Website) who has studied the genus thoroughly.
Requirements: Full sun and well-draining soil. Drought tolerant once established.
Care: Can be pruned/harvested quite liberally.
'Culinary Lemon'
An upright thyme with mid green lemon-scented leaves. The hardiest of the upright lemon thymes. Renamed from T. citriodorus in 2009 Plant Heritage by Margaret Easter.
Height: to 12 in. Spread: to 12 in.
'Golden Lemon'
A very popular upright cultivar with a strong lemon scent and green and golden variegated leaves. Raised by Rosemary Titterington of Iden Croft Nursery in England.
Height: to 12 in. Spread: to 12 in.
'Lemon Mist'
Our own introduction from a chance seedling that we selected for its compact habit, fine narrow foliage & sweet lemon fragrance. An excellent culinary thyme.
Height: to 12 in. Spread: to 12 in.
'Rose-scented'
A unique cultivar with slightly hairy grayish leaves that have a pleasant rose scent. An adventurous choice for culinary application and makes an excellent herbal tea.
Height: to 12 in. Spread: to 12 in.
'Tropicana'
A selection from The Thyme Garden of Alsea, OR from a seedling of T. vulgaris 'Orange Balsam.'
Leaves are dark green with a sweet orange fragrance.
Height: to 12 in. Spread: to 12 in.
'Well-Sweep Wedgewood'
Introduced by Cyrus Hyde of Well-Sweep Nursery in 1981 as T. 'English Wedgewood' but later renamed in Thymus Checklist (2009). Dark green leaves with cream-colored centers are reminscent of the Wedgewood china pattern.
Height: to 12 in. Spread: to 12 in.
Thymus × faustinoi
A naturally occurring hybrid from the Murcia region of Spain discovered in 2004. Likely a cross between T. subsp. mastichina and T. granatensis subsp. micranthus. Resembles French Thyme in both appearance and taste though slightly more compact.
Height: to 12 in. Spread: to 12 in.
T. vulgaris (English)
Also known as common thyme. Native from Spain to Greece but naturalized in just about every locale conquered by the Romans who revered it for its culinary and medicinal uses. Quite vigorous.
Height: to 12 in. Spread: to 12 in.
T. vulgaris (French)
More compact growth and narrower leaves than English thyme but genetically quite similar. Of course the French will tell you this is a more refined variety nonethless.
Height: to 12 in. Spread: to 12 in.
T. vulgaris 'Orange Balsam'
A cultivar of unknown origin from sometime before 1982. Leaves are narrow and grey-green with a strong, pleasant orange scent.
Height: to 12 in. Spread: to 12 in.
T. vulgaris 'Passion Pink'
An exceptionally ornamental culinary thyme of unknown origin. Very compact and upright growth with gorgeous flower carpets in summer.
Height: to 12 in. Spread: to 12 in.