Broad-leaved thyme is a fragrant, dwarf, woody evergreen in the Lamiaceae (mint) family. Found growing in sandy areas, roadsides, hills, grasslands, or rocky areas in its native Europe and Northwest China. The origin of the word "thyme" is from the Greek word thumos , which means "courage." During the Medieval Times, thyme was thought to have been an emblem of bravery. The word "thyme" may also have been derived from the Greek word thymos, meaning "perfume." The plants of this genus typically, are very fragrant. The species name, pulegioides, is derived from the Latin word pulegium and means "like pennyroyal." This references another plant known as European Pennyroyal. It measures 8-12 inches tall and 8-12 inches wide and is commonly used as an ornamental groundcover or as an herb. Broad-leafed thyme performs best in well-drained sandy or loamy soils and prefers full sun. It is easy to grow and requires very little maintenance. If used for culinary purposes, it is best to harvest the leaves before the flowers open. The common method of propagation is by division in the spring or semi-hard cuttings in the mid to late summer. The plant forms a mound and grows taller and more erect than creeping thyme. The edges of the stems are hairy, and all the stems have flowers. The flowers are tiny, tubular, and rose-purple in color. They appear in July and August. The leaves vary from dark green to variegated depending on the cultivar. Broad-leafed thyme attracts butterflies and bees and is deer and rabbit resistant and drought tolerant. This woody perennial would be a wonderful addition to a patio garden, rock garden, or cottage garden. It is perfect as a border or container gardening. It is reportedly very similar to Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum.) Quick ID Hints: Leaves are ovate and wider than Creeping Thyme All the stems flower Has a strong scent Tiny tubular rose-purple flower Taller and more erect than Creeping Thyme Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems provided that the plant is not overwatered or in poorly drained soil. More information on Thymus .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
Less than 12 inches
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 0 in. | Width: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Cream/Tan; Gold/Yellow; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Linear; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf value
Edible; Fragrant; Good Dried
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The leaves are dark green with reddish spots along the entire margin. Some cultivars' leaves are variegated green with golden edges or cream-colored edges. The leaves appear opposite, simple, and linear to ovate in shape. They typically have a strong scent.
Flower color
Pink; Purple/Lavender
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
The flowers are 0.25 inches in size, tubular, hairy, rose-purple blooms that occur from July-August. The corolla is irregular. The upper lip of the corolla is notched, and the lower lip is three-lobed. There are four stamens that protrude from the corolla.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit type
Schizocarp
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The fruit is dried schizocarp with four chambers containing the seeds.
Stem color
Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
hairy reddish stems
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Europe to Northwest China
Distribution
Native: Albania, Altay, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Central European Russia, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, East European Russia, Finland, Franc, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungry, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Krasnoyarsk, Krym, Netherlands, North Caucasus, North European Russia, Northwest European Russia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Sicilia, South European Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, West Siberia, Xinjiang, and Yugoslavia; Introduced: Canada--Manitoba, New Brunswick, Ontario, and Quebec; New Zealand, Primorye, USA--CT, DE, ME. MA, MI, NH, NY, OR, PA, VT, VA, and WA
Wildlife value
Nectar-rich flowers attract butterflies and bees. Pollinated by insects.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies
Play value
Attracts Pollinators; Fragrance
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Leaves
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Schizocarp
Edibility
The leaves may be used as a flavoring in foods such as chicken and fish. The leaves of the cultivar, 'Pennsylvania Dutch Tea,' are used to make a strong tea.
Uses (ethnobotany)
The leaves of the plant contain an essential oil that is used in making perfumes, antiseptics, expectorants, and deodorants. The lemon-scented leaves of some cultivars are used as a culinary herb to flavor foods and to make tea.