Thyme Seeds

Grow thyme for its versatile culinary uses in savory dishes, its attractive appearance as a ground cover and border plant, its medicinal properties for soothing coughs and digestive issues, and its ecological benefits, such as attracting pollinators and repelling garden pests like aphids and deer. Thyme is also low-maintenance, thrives in various conditions, and comes in many aromatic varieties.

This long-lived perennial herb is a mainstay of American cuisine. Thyme herb is found in recipes for almost everything including fish, chowders, sauces, stuffings, soups, meats and poultry. The aromatic, warming flavor holds up well during long cooking times.

Useful gardening information

Sow the seeds indoors on sterile starting mix 6-8 weeks before last frost. Keep the seeds moist until germination. Once frost season has passed transplant the seedlings into the garden in a sunny location.
Do not over water. It likes to dry out in-between waterings. Thyme plants dislike wet foliage, so surrounding the plant with a layer of gravel can help this.

Links to useful information on the web:

Planting, growing and harvesting Thyme

Thyme recipes

HR229 English Thyme ( Thymus vulgaris )

English Thyme is one of the most versatile and beloved culinary herbs in the world. This hardy perennial forms a dense mound of tiny aromatic leaves that provide exceptional flavor for soups, stews, poultry, vegetables, sauces, and countless traditional recipes. Its compact habit and attractive evergreen foliage also make it a beautiful addition to containers, herb gardens, borders, and rock gardens.

Beyond its culinary value, English Thyme is highly prized for its role in supporting pollinators. During summer, plants become covered with masses of delicate pink to lavender flowers that attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. The nectar-rich blooms provide an important food source while adding color and charm to the garden.

English Thyme is also valued as a companion plant in vegetable and herb gardens. Its fragrant foliage is traditionally planted near crops to help attract pollinators and beneficial insects while contributing to a healthy and diverse garden environment. The low-growing habit makes it an excellent choice for edging garden beds, pathways, and raised vegetable gardens.

Drought tolerant once established and exceptionally easy to grow, English Thyme thrives in containers and sunny locations where its fragrance can be enjoyed throughout the growing season.

Hardiness Zones:

English Thyme is a perennial in USDA Zones 5-9, returning year after year with minimal care.

Germination Instructions:

Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last expected frost or sow outdoors after danger of frost has passed.
Sow seeds on the surface of the soil and press lightly into place.
Do not cover deeply, as light aids germination.
Maintain temperatures between 65-75°F (18-24°C).
Keep the growing medium lightly moist.
Seeds typically germinate in 14-28 days.
Provide bright light after germination.
Transplant outdoors once seedlings are well established.

Growing Tips:

Plant in full sun for maximum flavor and flowering.
Prefers well-drained soil and tolerates poor, rocky conditions.
Excellent for containers, herb gardens, borders, and rock gardens.
Drought tolerant once established.
Harvest regularly to encourage dense, bushy growth.
Flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators.
Useful companion plant for vegetable and herb gardens.

Combining culinary excellence, ornamental beauty, pollinator value, and companion planting benefits, English Thyme is one of the most rewarding herbs for both beginning and experienced gardeners.

TPF039 Creeping Thyme ( Thymus serpyllum )

For Zones 5-8. This thyme is a creeping, woody based perennial which is primarily used as a ground cover. Numerous, thin, somewhat woody stems form a flat mat (2-3" tall) with tiny, rounded, glossy blue-green leaves (to 1/4"). Although leaves are aromatic, strength of scent varies according to season and habitat and leaves are usually not considered to be of culinary quality. Clusters of tiny, tubular, deep pink flowers appear in summer. Flowers are attractive to bees. Best as a small area ground cover or filler between stepping stones. Will sprawl over small rocks or over ledges in the rock garden

3532 Magic Carpet Thyme ( Thymus serpyllum )

If you have a stepping stone path or a flagstone patio, Magic Carpet is a great way to add lovely, low-growing thyme to the walkway and patio crevices. Creeping thyme ground cover is only 2 - 4 inches high, and it spreads and flowers for most of the summer.
Perfect for edging the flower border, rock gardens, walkways, patios and in containers. The plants are full of tiny lilac pink clusters of blooms that are attractive to butterflies. The groundcover is lemen-scented, and it is a maintenance free, hardy plant that will give years of beauty and enjoyment.
For zones 4-8.
Sow the seeds in starter trays indoors 6 weeks before the last expected frost. Press the Thyme seeds into the soil but do not cover them. Transplant the young seedlings into the garden 12 inches apart. After frost danger has passed, creeping thyme seeds can be directly seeded in a prepared seed bed that is weed free and has had the top several inches loosened and raked fine.
Outside: scatter the seeds and press them firmly into the soil. The ground cover seeds must be consistently kept moist. If weeds grow along with the thyme, it's best to hand pull them.

SF122 Aromatic Lemon Thyme ( Thymus pulegioides )

Low creeper, well suited as ground cover. Perfumes the air when trodden upon. Helps to clear mucous congestion. Used in cooking. Aromatic low growing bush or creeping herbs, ideal for rockeries, borders, or along pathways. Pretty pink or purple blossoms are a favorite of honeybees. Culinary and medicinal value. Grow indoors or out in full sun.
The most fragrant type, thick mats of perfumed rose purple flowers. Lemony flavor used in cooking and cough remedies. Grows about 4" tall.
Also known as Broad-leaved thyme, it is a perennial evergreen plant, mostly used as edible plant and can be also used as fragrant ornamental plant, can grow in temperate, subtropical or mediterranean climate and growing in hardiness zone 5-10. Very tiny seeds!

JB124 Summer Thyme ( Thymus vulgaris )

Superb culinary thyme. Spicier, more pungent flavor than Winter Thyme, it is a smaller plant that is favored by cooks for it's solid thyme flavor.
It has been used since ancient times to achieve healing, cure chest congestion, and induce saliva; the fresh leaves are taken to relieve sore throats. The plant is also used as an effective remedy for chest infections (bronchitis, pharyngitis, whooping cough) as well as to treat worms in children.

The plant has been used for its flavor in cooking. Thymus vulgaris essential oil is used as an antiseptic, antiviral, and antimicrobial agent in folk medicine. Thyme also possesses carminative and antioxidative effects. Grow as an annual in zones colder than 6.

All seed packets listed on this page are in stock and ready to ship.