Common Thyme

How to grow Common Thyme

Written by the GardenDecoded editorial team · Last reviewed 21 July 2026 · Written for UK gardens · How we research our guidance

Planting

Plant in spring in the sunniest, driest position you have. On clay, grow it in a raised bed, a gravel bed or a terracotta pot with plenty of grit in the compost. Winter wet at the roots kills far more thyme in Britain than cold does.

Pruning

Trim lightly after flowering, taking off the spent flower stems and a little of the current year's growth to keep the plant tight. Do not cut back into the bare woody base — thyme regrows poorly or not at all from old wood.

Propagation

Semi-ripe cuttings in early summer root readily. Low branches often self-layer and can be detached with roots. Seed is possible but slow and variable.

Pests and diseases

Little troubles it. Root rot from cold wet soil is the usual cause of death, and plants can suddenly collapse after a wet winter.

Value to wildlife

The small summer flowers are excellent for honeybees and solitary bees, and are worth leaving rather than shearing off early.

Notes

Thyme is short-lived and goes woody and sparse after about four or five years. Take cuttings routinely so you always have a young replacement ready rather than trying to rejuvenate an old plant.

This guidance was researched and written by GardenDecoded — see our editorial policy for how guides are checked and reviewed.

Other names for this plant

These names have all been used for Thymus vulgaris but are no longer the accepted name. You may still meet them on old labels, in books, or in nursery catalogues.

Others in Thymus