Plants

thyme

Thymus vulgaris L.

Family: Lamiaceae · Genus: Thymus

common thyme

Placenta I Ground cover No biomass production 🪓 Coppices after cutting

Creeping Mediterranean subshrub (15–30 cm), tiny leaves. Permanent ground cover in full sun on dry well-drained soil. Bee-attracting. Tolerates light foot traffic. Cold-hardy.

Götsch succession

Götsch stage: Placenta I
Ecological role: Pioneer
Primary stratum: Ground cover
Strata: Ground cover
Biomass class: No biomass production

Environment

Light requirement: Full sun
Water requirement: Low
Drought tolerance: High
Waterlogging tolerance: Low
Soil pH range: 6–8
Preferred soil texture: Sandy, Loamy
Hardiness zones: 5–10
Frost tolerance: -15.0 °C

Morphology

Mature height: 0.15–0.3 m
Recommended spacing: 0.3–0.4 m
Root system: Fibrous
Root depth: Shallow
Growth rate: Slow
Lifespan: 3–8 years

Biomes & climate

Atlantic Forest Suitable
Cerrado Suitable
Pampa Suitable

Köppen classes

Hot-summer Mediterranean (Csa) Suitable
Warm-summer Mediterranean (Csb) Suitable
Humid subtropical (Cfa) Suitable
Oceanic (Cfb) Suitable
Subtropical highland (Cwb) Suitable

Where it fits in a guild

Thyme takes the Ground cover stratum in the Placenta I phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time.

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🪴 Cultivation

A hardy creeping subshrub (zones 5–11), very drought tolerant once established; sandy-to-loamy well-drained soil at pH ~6–8. Dislikes excessive moisture, especially in winter. Needs full sun. Propagated by seed, cutting, division or layering.

✂️ Management & Pruning

Trim lightly after flowering to stay compact and prevent a woody centre; harvest tips frequently. Do not cut back to old leafless wood.

📅 Phenology

Flowering months: October, November, December, January

❓ Frequently asked questions

What spacing is recommended for thyme?

The recommended spacing for thyme is 0.3–0.4 m.

How tall does thyme grow?

At maturity, thyme reaches 0.15–0.3 m tall.

When does thyme flower?

Flowering of thyme occurs in October, November, December, January.

What stage and stratum does thyme occupy in a syntropic system?

In a syntropic system, thyme belongs to the placenta i stage, occupying the ground cover stratum.

Functions

Aromatic Medicinal 🍯 Melliferous 🐝 Attracts pollinators Ground cover

Propagation

Cutting, Seed, Division

Citations

Plants For A Future (PFAF) — Thymus vulgaris (height_min_m, height_max_m, soil_texture_preference, light_need, water_need, drought_tolerance, propagation, hardiness_zone_min, hardiness_zone_max, waterlogging_tolerance)