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French Thyme (Culinary)

Gardening Guide: It’s About Thyme: All You Need to Know About Growing, Harvesting, and Cooking with Thyme

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French Thyme (Culinary)

In this Plant Profile, get specific details, including the characteristics and best uses of French Thyme, one of our Plant Profiles featured in our Thyme Collection.

By Norann Oleson

French Thyme

French Thyme

French thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is a variety of English thyme that has narrower, grey-green leaves and a slightly sweeter flavor, with a subtle hint of clove. Many chefs prefer French thyme for cooking—but it’s a personal taste. French thyme is also known as summer thyme and is thought to have originated in Provence. Although it is similar to English thyme, French thyme is not quite as robust or cold tolerant.

Sun Exposure

  • Full sun (six to eight hours)

Soil pH

  • 6.0 to 8.0

Hardiness Zones

  • 4 to 9

Spacing

  • Plant 12 inches apart

Moisture

  • Drought resistant
  • Water only when soil is completely dry
  • 1 inch of water every 1 1/2 to 2 weeks

Notes

  • Grows to 12 inches
  • Aromatic with sweet flavor
  • Subtler in flavor than English thyme
  • Especially delicious in French recipes, such as quiche and seafood

Have you tried growing French thyme? How do you use it? Please tell us your experiences growing French thyme.

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Tags

english thyme, french thyme, thyme

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

  • Curator’s Corner
  • Introduction
  • Feature Articles

  • Types of Thyme Plants
  • A Word About Varieties of Thyme Plants
  • Choosing to Grow Thyme from Seeds or Seedlings
  • Growing Thyme in Open Land, in Raised Beds, or in Containers
  • Starting with the Right Soil for Your Thyme Plants
  • Planting and Pruning Thyme
  • The Right Sunlight for Your Thyme Plants
  • Should You Fertilize Your Thyme Plants?
  • How—and When—to Water Your Thyme Plants
  • How to Spot, Treat, and Prevent Thyme Diseases
  • What to Do About Pests that Can Harm Your Thyme Plants
  • The Right Way to Weed Your Thyme Patch
  • Essential Tools and Equipment for Growing Thyme
  • How to Grow Culinary Thyme in a Container
  • How to Keep Thyme Alive and Growing Year After Year
  • Plant Profiles

  • Lavender Thyme (Culinary & Ornamental)
  • Woolly Thyme (Ornamental)
  • Caraway Thyme (Culinary & Ornamental)
  • Lemon Thyme (Culinary & Ornamental)
  • French Thyme (Culinary)
  • English Thyme (Culinary)
  • Recipes

  • Thyme Tea
  • Cheddar-Thyme Biscuits
  • Thyme and Mushroom Soup
  • Lemon Thyme Tea Bread
  • Garlic Thyme Chicken Thighs
  • Roasted Potatoes with Lemon Thyme
  • Feta and Olive Bake with Thyme
  • Additional Articles

  • Nutrition Facts about Thyme
  • Home Remedies & Health Benefits of Thyme
  • Resources about Thyme
  • Thyme Glossary
  • Related Articles

  • 8 French Cooking Herbs to Grow to Make Herbs de Provence

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