Thyme
Thymus vulgaris
Wants sun and sharp drainage; wet winters do it in.
Hardiness: zones 5 to 9
Light: full sun
Size: about 0.8 ft tall, 1 ft wide
Harvest: April to October
From: Mediterranean
Drought-hardy once established
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: food, pollinators, traditional use.
Native to: Mediterranean. Hardy in zones 5 to 9.
The story
Thyme grows wild on the hills of the Mediterranean and was burned as incense by the Greeks and carried as a charm by medieval knights; its oil, thymol, was the antiseptic of 19th-century hospitals. Bees make a famous honey from it.
Planting
Full sun and lean, sharply drained soil; plant in spring, 12 inches apart, or in a pot. It hates wet winter clay.
Growing
Water rarely once established and never feed. Shear lightly after flowering; replace woody plants every four or five years.
Harvest and use
Cut sprigs any time; harvest whole stems before flowering to dry. The flavour holds well dried.
What to watch for
Winter wet, and little else.
Safety
Medicinal uses here are shared as history, not advice. Kitchen amounts are fine for most people, but teas, tinctures and supplements can interact with medicines and aren't safe for everyone, especially in pregnancy, while breastfeeding, for children, or with liver or kidney problems. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before taking any plant as medicine.
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More perennial vegetables, greens and herbs
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home