Varieties of Culinary Thyme

Common Thyme

• Thymus vulgaris, or Common thyme, grows to 1 foot high, with white to lilac flowers in late spring to early summer. "Argenteus" and "Hi-Ho" have silvery foliage. "Italian Oregano Thyme" is oregano-flavored. "Orange Balsam" has orange-scented leaves. Common thyme varieties should be planted in full sun. Dig organic compost into the soil so that it drains well. Common thyme is also a good candidate for container cultivation. Arrange to keep pots well watered, as they dry out quickly in the summer heat.

Creeping Thyme

• Thymus praecox arcticus, called creeping thyme or mother of thyme, has soft, fragrant growth that can stand up to foot traffic. "Album" has light green leaves with white flowers. "Coccineum" has reddish-purple flowers. "Pink Ripple" has lemon-scented leaves and flowers in pink. "Reiter's Red" grows an inch high and sports red flowers. Use creeping thyme for seasoning and for potpourri.

Pennsylvania Dutch Tea Thyme

• Thymus pulegioides, Pennsylvania Dutch tea thyme, grows to 1 foot high in U.S. Department of Agriculture climate zones 5 to 11. This evergreen, fragrant herb sports purple to white flowers in summer. "Goldstream" has variegated bright yellow and green foliage, which is lemon-scented but not flavored. "Kermesinus" has pink flowers, and "Lemon Frost" flowers in white.

Lemon Thyme

• T x citriodorous, lemon thyme, may have an erect or spreading growth habit to 1 foot high. The leaves of lemon thyme are lemon-scented. "Silver Queen" has pretty, light green leaves edged in white, with lavender flowers. "Argenteus" has silvery leaves, and "Aureus" has golden leaves. "Doone Valley" has leaves with yellow spots, and grows to only 5 inches high. Use lemon thyme for its lemony flavor in soups, salads and chicken dishes. Use the attractive sprigs and flowering stems as a pretty garnish.

Caraway Scented Thyme

• Caraway-scented thyme, Thymus herba-berona, is a fast-growing variety. It spreads to 2 feet wide or more, rooting as its stems spread. At only 3 to 4 inches high, it forms a dense mat. Use caraway-scented thyme in recipes that normally call for caraway, such as Hungarian cabbage rolls and sauerkraut dishes. Caraway-scented thyme flowers in midsummer with rosy-pink flowers.