Herb
English Thyme
Thymus vulgaris · Lamiaceae (mint family)
Also called: Common Thyme, Garden Thyme, French Thyme
English Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is a low-water herb well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It thrives in full sun in cool months, with a slow to moderate growth rate. Expect pale pink to lilac/white blooms spring into early summer in Tucson.
English Thyme at a glance
- Water use
- Low (established)
- Sun
- Full sun in cool months; appreciates light afternoon shade in summer in Tucson
- Mature size
- 6-12 in. tall, 12-18 in. wide; low, spreading sub-shrub
- Growth rate
- Slow to moderate
- Bloom
- Pale pink to lilac/white, Spring into early summer in Tucson (small flowers)
- Cold hardiness
- Cold-hardy perennial in Tucson (USDA 9a-9b); woody and frost-tolerant to about 10-15°F, no winter protection needed. Heat is the bigger stress.
- Soil
- Sharp-draining, gritty or sandy soil; tolerates lean, rocky, alkaline desert soils. Raised beds or containers improve drainage. Prefers neutral to slightly alkaline pH.
- Native range
- Mediterranean region (southern Europe, western Mediterranean)
- Best used as
- Culinary herb (savory dishes, stocks, roasts, herbes de Provence), Container and herb-garden planting, Low water-use border/edging, Pollinator plant
- Wildlife
- Flowers attract bees and other pollinators; generally avoided by rabbits and javelina due to aromatic, resinous foliage.
- Toxicity
- Non-toxic and safe for people; considered safe around dogs and cats. Concentrated thyme essential oil should not be ingested by pets.
How to grow English Thyme in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Drought-tolerant once established; water deeply but infrequently and let the top inch of soil dry between waterings. Overwatering and poor drainage are the main killers in the low desert; cut back watering in winter.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Very low feeder. A light application of balanced or all-purpose fertilizer in early spring is plenty; avoid high nitrogen, which produces lush, weak, less-aromatic growth. Compost-amended soil usually suffices.
Pruning & care
Shear lightly after flowering and trim regularly during harvest to keep plants compact and prevent woodiness; cut back by up to one-third in spring to renew old, leggy growth.
Notes
A reliable perennial herb in Tucson. Best planted as a transplant in fall (Oct-Nov) so it establishes through the cool season; spring planting also works. Provide afternoon shade and steady (but not soggy) moisture to carry it through the intense summer heat. Excellent in pots.
Sources: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension / Pima County Master Gardeners; Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum; Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder; ASPCA non-toxic plant list