Thyme is a perennial culinary herb, grown for the flavor it brings to the kitchen, ready to harvest about 85 days after planting. It's hardy across USDA zones 5 through 9, stands up to deer and handles dry spells once it's established. Its summer flowers are a real draw for honeybees, native bees, and butterflies, even though the harvest is the prize.
Zones
5-9
pH Range
4.5-8
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
85
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What Thyme is
Thyme grows as a perennial and reaches around a foot at maturity. It blooms pink in summer. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Thyme
Thyme grows in USDA zones 5 through 9 and is ready to harvest about 85 days after planting. Thyme does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 4.5 to 8, on well-drained to fast-draining ground. It needs around 2,000 growing degree days to mature and a growing season of at least 100 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
5-9
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
4.5 - 8
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells), excessive (dry/moderately dry)
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
39.2°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Days to Maturity
85 days
English thyme; perennial; cut-and-come-again. Full sun, well-drained.
UMD-Herb; RHS
GDD Required
2000+
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
1 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
100+
plant_species_v5.csv
Start the season right
Plant thyme in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Thyme prefers pH 4.5 to 8 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at maturity
Thyme is ready about 85 days after planting (UMD-Herb; RHS). Snip sprigs as you need them — regular cutting keeps the foliage tender and slows it bolting to flower.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — thyme isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Thyme is a standout pollinator plant — high value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Thyme thrives
Thyme is hardy across USDA zones 5 through 9. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 5–9·Where Thyme growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Thyme can grow in these states:
See if Thyme will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether thyme actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Thyme in my zone?
Thyme grows in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 9 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
How long does Thyme take to grow?
Thyme is ready to harvest about 85 days after planting (UMD-Herb; RHS). Your local frost dates and soil temperature move that window earlier or later.
When should you plant Thyme?
Most growers plant thyme after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 100-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Thyme need?
Thyme needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Thyme need?
Thyme prefers soil pH 4.5 to 8, on well-drained to fast-draining ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Thyme attract pollinators?
Yes — thyme's flowers are a strong nectar and pollen source for honeybees, native bees, and butterflies (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Thyme safe for pets?
Thyme is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.