The aesthetic appeal and the many uses of lemon thyme in garden design are reason enough to plant this aromatic treasure. Using lemon thyme in a garden can bring interest and appeal in various ways. Lemon thyme makes an excellent border plant in a rock garden and thrives in those conditions. If looking to xeriscape, thyme is perfect and will give a pop of color when it flowers or, depending on the cultivar, can add yellows and lime greens as well.
Light
Lemon thyme demands bright sunny locations that recall its origins. It will tolerate some shade, but it will never thrive and give its best foliage or aroma in anything but the full sun. If your yard lacks a location that gets full sun, lemon thyme grows wonderfully in containers and can be kept on a sunny window sill.
Soil
When thinking of ideal soil conditions for lemon thyme, consider the native conditions of where it originally lived. In thyme’s case, this would be the dry, sandy, rocky limestone mountainsides of the Mediterranean. This environment creates the perfect dry, alkaline soil needed for growing lemon thyme. While these conditions are ideal, lemon thyme and many Mediterranean herbs will grow in almost any soil condition since they are adapted to growing in rocky, infertile soil.
Water
Watering lemon thyme is a low-maintenance affair. Lemon thyme prefers dry conditions, so watering it weekly or even every few weeks is fine. Once the soil is truly dry to the touch, water the soil until it’s drenched.
Temperature and Humidity
Lemon thyme thrives in warm, dry weather, so it reaches its peak performance during the summer. This is when you will see the lovely lilac flowers bloom, as well as reap the benefit of the volatile lemony essential oils released by the warm air. It will go dormant during the cooler months but may remain green throughout the year in all but the coldest climates.
Fertilizer
Treating herbs, not just lemon thyme, with fertilizer is often a bad idea. A great way to be proactive and encourage vigorous growth is to add some organic compost when planting.
Growing Lemon Thyme From Seed
Growing lemon thyme from seed is possible, but it is often slow to germinate.
Propagating Lemon Thyme
Once you have an established plant, you can easily propagate thyme. Cutting is a common propagation method. Alternatively, you can dip cuttings in a rooting hormone and push the cutting into seed starting soil. Keep the soil moist and within a few weeks the plant’s roots will have begun to develop.
Potting and Repotting
If you plan to propagate thyme or want to grow thyme in a container rather than in the garden, having a great potting mix is essential. Start with a base of three parts seed mix, two parts compost, one part vermiculite, and one part topsoil. This mix will give you the suitable organics, draining, aeration, moisture retention, and texture for your herb to be happy.
