Thyme, French

French Thyme

  • botanical name: Thymus x ‘narrowleaf French’
  • perennial zones 5-9
  • height 12-18″
  • spacing 12″ apart, in rows 12″ apart
  • full sun tolerant, partial shade
  • poor-average, well-drained soil
  • flower color white
  • uses in garden: great in containers, cut foliage, as an edging, fragrant
  • use in clam chowder and stews, meat dishes, pizza sauce and marinades
  • attracts honeybees

*Please note: We accept plant orders at any time of the year and if you prefer to place an order outside our regular shipping months of April-May, ordering is still easy. “Why we only ship in April and May”

Due to the nature of shipping live plants, when you place an order, we will simply hold your order and ship it at the proper time for your zone, when weather permits in April 2013. Seed packets are shipped year round through USPS.

For more information see our “Ordering and Shipping Policy.”


Organic herb plant




French Thyme is one of the best culinary varieties, used in herb vinegars, breads, and butters. It is a low-growing, bushy thyme with gray narrow leaves. Once established, it tolerates drought very well and requires little care. Honeybees love the white flowers of this Thyme plant.

Plant in well-drained but relatively poor soil. Thyme plants are susceptible to fungal diseases, avoid over watering. Wetting their leaves, while watering, also reduces their fragrance.

To keep plants from becoming too woody, cut back plants by one half after flowering, to encourage new growth… To overwinter – keep sheltered from cold winds by mulching. In climates where the temperatures regularly go below 10 degrees F, plants should be heavily mulched, or potted and brought inside to overwinter. Thyme will become woody and needs to be divided or replaced after 3-4 years.

Find great Thyme recipes here!

Which Thyme variety is right for you? View a summary of all the varieties together.

Sowing Instructions:
Sowing Thyme from seed can be tricky. Indoors – sow the tiny seeds on top of the growing medium and cover with a thin layer of soil mix 6-8 weeks before the last frost. Keep moist until germination. 14-21 days to germination. Transplant in individual containers when plants have four true leaves. To avoid legginess, pinch off growing tips of upright varieties to make bushier plants. Transplant outside when all danger of frost has passed. Space plants 12 inches apart, in rows at least one foot apart. 90-100 days to harvest.

Preferred method: take herbaceous cuttings from established plants from new green growth. Root cuttings in fine garden soil or other growing medium, misting daily until well rooted. Transplant outdoors after all danger of frost is passed. For best results, space plants 12 inches apart.

To harvest – harvest leaves as needed, in the morning after dew has dried, before flowering in midsummer. The entire plant may be harvested by cutting plant leaving about 2 inches above the ground. The plant will recover before the end of the season; however, the plant may not be as winter hardy. Plants generally become woody after 2-3 years and should be replaced.

Storage – to dry, hang in small bunches – hanging upside down in a warm, dry, dark place. Once dried remove the leaves from the stem and keep whole. Do not crush or grind leaves until ready to use. Store in airtight containers. The ice cube method can be used to store fresh Thyme for use throughout the winter.