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Thymus serpyllum - L.

Common Name Wild Thyme
Family Lamiaceae or Labiatae
USDA hardiness 5-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Dry stony ground, open sandy heaths and grassland in East Anglia[7, 13, 17].
Range Europe, including Britain, from Sweden south and east to France, Hungary and Roumania.
Edibility Rating    (4 of 5)
Other Uses    (5 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (3 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Thymus serpyllum Wild Thyme


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Thymus serpyllum Wild Thyme

 

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Summary

Bloom Color: Purple. Main Bloom Time: Early summer. Form: Prostrate, Spreading or horizontal.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Thymus serpyllum is an evergreen Shrub growing to 0.1 m (0ft 4in) by 0.3 m (1ft) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in leaf all year, in flower from July to August, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, flies, Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies).
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

T. angustifolius.

Habitats

 Ground Cover; Lawn; Cultivated Beds; East Wall. In. South Wall. In. West Wall. In.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves
Edible Uses: Tea

Leaves - raw in salads or added as a flavouring to cooked foods[2, 11, 46, 61]. Thyme retains its flavour well in long slow cooking. If the leaves are to be dried, the plants should be harvested in early and late summer just before the flowers open and the leaves should be dried quickly[200]. An aromatic tea is made from the leaves[21].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Anthelmintic  Antirheumatic  Antiseptic  Antispasmodic  Carminative  Deodorant  Diaphoretic  Disinfectant  
Disinfectant  Expectorant  Sedative  Tonic

Wild thyme is a commonly used domestic remedy, being employed especially for its antiseptic properties and its beneficial effect on the digestive system. The whole plant is anthelmintic, strongly antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative, deodorant, diaphoretic, disinfectant, expectorant, sedative and tonic[4, 165, 200, 238, 254]. It is taken internally in the treatment of bronchitis, catarrh, laryngitis, flatulent indigestion, painful menstruation, colic and hangovers[238]. It is said to be effective in treating alcoholism[238]. It should not be prescribed for pregnant women[238]. Externally, it is applied to minor injuries, mastitis, mouth, throat and gum infections etc[238]. The plant can be used fresh at any time of the year, or it can be harvested as it comes into flower and either be distilled for the oil or dried for later use[238]. The seeds are used as a vermifuge[240]. Wild thyme contains all the medicinal properties of the more commonly used garden thyme (T. vulgaris), though in a lesser degree[4]. An essential oil distilled from the leaves is used in the treatment of stress-related conditions, though it can cause allergic reactions[238].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Deodorant  Disinfectant  Disinfectant  Essential  Fungicide  Repellent

An essential oil from the leaves and flowering tops is used in perfumery, soaps, medicinally etc. It has fungicidal and disinfectant properties[4, 7]. About 150 grams of oil are obtained from 100 kilos of plant material[4]. The dried flowers are used to repel moths from clothing[4]. The growing plant is said to repel cabbage root fly[18, 20]. A good ground cover for a sunny position[197]. It needs weeding for the first year or so[197]. Plants are best spaced about 45cm apart each way[208]. Plants are only satisfactory when young or growing luxuriantly - they are apt to become bare in patches otherwise[208]. Summer flowers bring bees. Perennial groundcover for zone 2 firebreaks. The US government has created a system of firebreaks for areas prone to wildfires, theses are separated into concentric zones surrounding buildings. Zone 2 is the second away from the house. These low-level groundcovers provide little fuel.

Special Uses

Attracts Wildlife  Ground cover  Scented Plants

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Container, Ground cover, Rock garden, Seashore. Requires a light well-drained preferably calcareous soil in a sunny position[1, 200]. Succeeds in dry soils[4]. Grows well between stepping stones on paths, tolerating light treading[183, 200]. Succeeds on walls. Thymes dislike wet conditions, especially in the winter. A layer of gravel on the soil around them will help protect the foliage from wet soils[238]. Plants are hardy to about -15°c[200]. This is a very difficult genus taxonomically, the species hybridize freely with each other and often intergrade into each other[200]. This species is harvested commercially for its essential oil, known as 'wild thyme'[218]. Closely related to T. praecox arcticus, but this species is not so common in Britain[11]. It is a very polymorphic plant. A good companion for most other plants[54], it makes a very good carpeting plant for the rockery or between paving stones[1] and can also be grown in a short lawn[54]. The flowers are rich in nectar and are very attractive to honey bees[200], the plant also attracts butterflies[4, 7, 24]. Special Features:Attractive foliage, Edible, Fragrant foliage, Not North American native, Suitable for dried flowers. Heat Zone 9-1.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. Seed can also be sown in autumn in a greenhouse. Surface sow or barely cover the seed. Germination can be erratic. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in spring or autumn[200]. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are growing away well. Plant them out in the summer or the following spring. Cuttings of young shoots, 5 - 8cm with a heel, May/June in a frame[200]. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 8cm with a heel, July/August in a frame[200]. Layering.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Creeping thyme. Balma jhar, Banajawain, Csombor, Cubra, Kakukkbora, Kalandar zatar, Marizha, Masho, Rang sbur, Samon-phyu-yaing, Shakei, Wild thyme,

Native Plant Search

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Africa, Asia, Australia, Austria, Balkans, Bosnia, Britain, Canada, China, East Africa, Estonia, Ethiopia, Europe*, Eurasia, Hawaii, Hungary, Iceland, India, Japan, Mongolia, Myanmar, North America, Norway, Pacific, Poland, Spain, Tasmania, Turkey, USA,

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Thymus caespititiusCretan ThymeShrub0.1 6-9  LMNDM222
Thymus camphoratusCamphor ThymeShrub0.4 6-9  LMNDM022
Thymus capitatusHeaded Savory, ThymusShrub0.3 6-9  LMNDM222
Thymus cilicicusCilician ThymeShrub0.2 6-9  LMNDM122
Thymus herba-baronaCaraway ThymeShrub0.1 8-10 SLMNDM324
Thymus hirtus Shrub0.0 -  LMNDM222
Thymus mastichinaMastic ThymeShrub0.3 6-9  LMNDM222
Thymus pannonicusEurasian thymePerennial0.2 4-8  LMNDM222
Thymus praecoxMother of thyme, Creeping thyme, Woolly ThymeShrub0.1 5-8 MLMNDM223
Thymus praecox arcticusWild ThymeShrub0.1 4-8  LMNDM325
Thymus pseudolanuginosusWoolly ThymeShrub0.1 3-9 MLMNDM222
Thymus pulegioidesBroad-Leaved Thyme, lemon thymeShrub0.2 4-8  LMNDM222
Thymus quinquecostatus Shrub0.1 4-8  LMNDM222
Thymus vulgarisCommon Thyme, Garden thyme, Wild ThymeShrub0.2 5-11 MLMNDM435
Thymus x citriodorusLemon Thyme, Creeping Lemon Thyme, Lemon-Scented ThymeShrub0.1 5-10 MLMNDM425
Thymus zygis Shrub0.3 6-9  LMNDM222

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

L.

Botanical References

1117200

Links / References

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Readers comment

Christel Peart   Thu Jul 20 2006

I want to grow it between paving stones. How do I start it off???? Please help!!!! Christel Peart Guildford, UK

Joel   Mon Oct 8 2007

I want to make a full lawn with it, avoiding grass. I live in the South of France and it's always sunny and dry and hot in summer. My soil is rocky except for the surface. Suggestions. I planted two small samples two weeks ago. Thanks, Joel.

Jennifer Watson   Thu Dec 13 2007

I am wanting to know the difference between T. serpyllum and T. pulegioides! How can you tell them apart visually? And can they be used interchangeable medicinally? Thank you so much for any help. Jennifer Watson [email protected]

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