Thymus vulgaris (common thyme, German thyme,[1] garden thyme or just thyme) is a species of flowering plant in the mint family Lamiaceae, native to southern Europe from the western Mediterranean to southern Italy. Growing to 15- tall by 40cm (20inches) wide, it is a bushy, woody-based evergreen subshrub with small, highly aromatic, grey-green leaves and clusters of purple or pink flowers in early summer.[2]
It is useful in the garden as groundcover, where it can be short-lived, but is easily propagated from cuttings. It is also the main source of thyme as an ingredient in cooking and as a herbal medicine. It is slightly spicier than oregano and sweeter than sage.
The Latin specific epithet vulgaris means “common” in the sense of “widespread”.[3]
Numerous cultivars and hybrids have been developed for ornamental purposes. Nomenclature can be very confusing.[4] French, German and English varieties vary by leaf shape and colour and essential oils.[5] The many cultivars include 'Argenteus' (silver thyme).[6]
The cultivar 'Silver Queen', with white-margined leaves, has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[7] [8]