Thyme is a highly adaptable plant, valued globally for its aromatic foliage and resistance to drought. This low-growing Mediterranean herb serves a dual purpose, functioning equally well as a fragrant culinary seasoning and a durable ground cover in garden landscapes. Successfully adding this plant to your home begins with knowing how to select the right variety for your needs and where to acquire a healthy specimen. This guide will walk you through choosing the perfect thyme and ensuring you purchase a high-quality plant that will thrive.
Selecting the Best Thyme Variety for Your Needs
The first step in purchasing thyme is determining its primary use, as varieties are generally categorized by their growth habit and flavor profile. Culinary thyme varieties are typically upright, growing between 6 and 12 inches tall, which makes harvesting the leaves easier. These types have a robust flavor due to a higher concentration of the essential oil thymol. Common culinary examples include English Thyme and French Thyme, which is often preferred for its refined flavor and compact growth. Lemon Thyme is another popular choice, featuring a distinct citrus scent and taste that works well in fish and poultry dishes. Conversely, ornamental or ground cover thymes are generally prostrate or creeping, forming a dense, low mat that can handle light foot traffic. Creeping thymes, such as Woolly Thyme or Mother of Thyme, are excellent for filling spaces between stepping stones or cascading over rock walls. These ground cover types often have less intense flavor, but they provide a beautiful carpet of tiny leaves and are covered in small pink or lavender flowers in the summer.
Retail Sources for Thyme Plants
Once you have identified the desired variety, several retail channels offer thyme plants.
Local Nurseries and Garden Centers
Local nurseries and independent garden centers are often the best sources for specialized or lesser-known thyme cultivars. They typically employ staff with horticultural expertise who can provide tailored advice on which variety will perform best in your specific climate and soil conditions. These smaller businesses focus on plant health and quality, offering specimens that are generally well-established and acclimated to local environmental factors.
Big Box Stores
For the most common varieties, such as Common Thyme or basic Creeping Thyme, big box stores and home improvement chains offer convenience and lower price points. While their selection is often limited, these stores are readily accessible and a good option for gardeners needing only one or two standard plants.
Online Suppliers
Online nurseries and mail-order suppliers specialize in an extensive range of rare and unique thyme varieties, making them the ideal choice for collecting specific ground covers or citrus-scented types. While online purchases require shipping considerations, they can be useful for bulk orders of ground cover or when seeking a cultivar unavailable locally.
Ensuring a Quality Thyme Purchase
Selecting a healthy plant is crucial for successful establishment in your garden.
Inspecting the Plant
When inspecting a plant, look for a robust, well-branched structure with consistently green foliage. Avoid any plants that appear tall and spindly, as this “legginess” indicates they have been reaching for light and may struggle to adapt to a new environment. Gently check the plant’s root system by examining the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot. A few fine white roots visible at the bottom are a good sign of health, but a solid, compacted mass of roots wrapping around the soil means the plant is root-bound and may require extra effort to establish. Be watchful for common pests like aphids or whiteflies, which may manifest as tiny insects on the underside of leaves or sticky residue on the foliage.
Timing the Purchase
The optimal time to purchase and plant thyme is in the spring, after the danger of the last hard frost has passed, or in the early autumn. Buying during the main growing season ensures the plant is actively growing and can quickly establish itself in the soil. Purchasing a plant too early in the year or during the peak of winter can limit selection and increase the risk of the plant suffering from cold damage.