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Thymus vulgaris

Common Thyme · English Thyme · Garden Thyme

Family LamiaceaeGenus Thymus

A spreading mat of small pink-purple flower heads on wiry stems with tiny dark leaves, growing over a granite slab.
The whole plantNaturpuurCC BY 4.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Ground Cover, Herb, Herbaceous PerennialExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
subshrubPlants of the World Online
Height
0.5-1 ft15-30 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
0.5-1.3 ft15-40 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Pink, Purple/Lavender, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Spring, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Baleares, France, Italy, SpainGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
5-9Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sunExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow RockyExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally DryExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Common thyme is the main source of the herb thyme, used in cooking and herbal medicine; it is slightly spicier than oregano and sweeter than sage. Vulgaris means "common" in the sense of widespread. Wikipedia: Thymus vulgaris

This source reports three treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

Germination happens during step 1, in 21 days.

100% germination in 21 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Thymus p. 221Public domain
Show the original text
Thymus (Lamlaceae). T. vulgare germ. 70D or 70L(100% in 2-4 d), 40(100% in 3rd w), and 75% in early March in outdoor treatment. A caution about the outdoor treatment, a drop in T to 15 in mid-March caused the seedlings to all die.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Thymus p. 221. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around April 1, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 4 days to germinate.

100% germination in 2–4 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Thymus p. 221Public domain
Show the original text
Thymus (Lamlaceae). T. vulgare germ. 70D or 70L(100% in 2-4 d), 40(100% in 3rd w), and 75% in early March in outdoor treatment. A caution about the outdoor treatment, a drop in T to 15 in mid-March caused the seedlings to all die.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Thymus p. 221. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

  1. Sow outdoors and leave it

    Up in early March.

No stated waiting before sowing.

75% germination.

This source doesn't state how long step 1 lasts.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Thymus p. 221Public domain
Show the original text
Thymus (Lamlaceae). T. vulgare germ. 70D or 70L(100% in 2-4 d), 40(100% in 3rd w), and 75% in early March in outdoor treatment. A caution about the outdoor treatment, a drop in T to 15 in mid-March caused the seedlings to all die.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Thymus p. 221. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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