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Herb
Thyme
Thymus vulgaris
A small, tough Mediterranean herb that thrives in Adelaide's hot, dry conditions and suits pots, edges and rockeries. Full sun and free drainage are essential. Trim regularly to keep plants compact; the flowers are excellent for bees.
- SunFull sun
- Spacing30 cm apart
- First pick9–13 weeks
- FrostFrost hardy
- HeatHandles heat well
When to plant where you live
Checking your area…
Add thyme to my gardenVarieties (3)
- Common thymeUpright culinary thyme with the strongest flavour
- Creeping thymeLow groundcover between pavers; tough and flowery
- Lemon thymeCitrus-scented leaves; great with fish and chicken
Neighbours
Grows well with
From seed to plate
Plant
30 cm apart. Full sun.
Water
Sparing.
Feed
None needed.
Pick, from about 9 weeks
Snip tips.
Good to know
- Pick sprigs often to keep it bushy
- Strike cuttings in spring or autumn
Common problems
- Root rot in wet soilplant in raised beds or pots with gritty mix
- Woody, sparse plantstrim after flowering and replace every 3 to 4 years
- Spider mites in hot dry weatherhose foliage; plants usually recover
If you use a garden chemical, follow the label exactly. Try organic options first, and ask the community or Plant Doctor if you're unsure.
Wildlife
Good for: bees.
Where this information comes from
- ABC Gardening Australia fact sheets (growing, low confidence)
- Gardenate: Growing Thyme (comparison) (growing, medium confidence, checked 27 Oct 2026)
- Sustainable Gardening Australia: planting guides (sowing window, low confidence)
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control: Thyme (non-toxic) (toxicity, high confidence, checked 27 Oct 2026)
Reviewed by AI cross-check (Claude), not a horticulturist on 27 Oct 2026. Version 2.