Lemon Thyme (Thymus x citriodorus)
2 sources cited · Verified
The short answer
- Plant
- Late March to late May
- Site
- 6+ hours of sun
- Biggest risk
- Foot and root rot
In the UK, lemon thymes go in the ground late March to late May.
Lemon thymes (Thymus x citriodorus) — Compact, bushy, mounding evergreen sub-shrub.
Timing is the decision that matters most in the UK: sowing late March, and that same window applies across all 4 regions covered here.
Core growing advice on this page is checked against named horticultural sources — see References.
Regional Planting Calendar
Quick Facts
At a Glance
Growth Stages
Harvest & Storage
Diseases
Pests
Lemon Thyme Photo Gallery
References
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Light: full sun (6+ hours) or partial sun. Soil: sand, loam/silt or shallow rocky; good drainage, occasionally dry. Size: 6-12in height, 1ft width, under 12in space needed. Hardiness USDA zones 5a-8b. Propagation: division. Pests/diseases: no significant problems; root rot occurs in too-moist soils -- the only major concern is overwatering. Growth: medium growth rate, low maintenance, mounding form with spreading tendency. Edibility: leaves and flowers eaten raw in salads or cooked; also used in herbal medicine and aromatherapy. Wildlife: nectar attracts pollinators, specifically bees and butterflies. Harvest: best in the morning, just before the plant flowers, when most aromatic and flavourful.
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Site: warm, sunny location, free-draining soil or containers; heavy or damp soil needs a raised bed or container. Lemon thyme specifically has a lemon scent and flavour, versus common thyme's sweet, earthy, peppery taste -- both otherwise follow identical growing protocols. Planting: spaced 20-30cm (8-12in) apart; container at least 15cm wide x 10cm deep with up to 25% horticultural grit for drainage; planted mid-spring to early summer. Harvest: soft new growth in late spring and summer has the best flavour; harvestable year-round as an evergreen; snip young shoots whenever needed; dried leaves keep strong flavour in airtight jars. Overwintering: most widely sold varieties tolerate UK frost; less reliably hardy types (e.g. T. cilicicus) need greenhouse protection; high-rainfall areas benefit from cloche protection; containers do best in a sheltered spot near a building, in a rain shadow. Pests/diseases: rosemary beetles, sage leafhoppers (coarse pale mottling), slugs/snails (vulnerable young shoots). Propagation: softwood cuttings (spring/early summer), semi-ripe cuttings (summer), layering, or division -- all produce plants identical to the parent.
2 independent sources are cited for this crop. Where they disagree - soil pH is the clearest case - every figure is preserved rather than averaged into false precision.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I sow lemon thymes in the UK?
In Southern England, from late March. In Scotland, wait until late March. Treat these as a guide rather than a fixed date — the governing rule is to sow only once frost risk has passed and temperatures are reliably warm enough.
When do I sow lemon thymes?
Sow late March to late May.
What problems affect lemon thymes?
Our data links 1 disease and 4 pests to this crop. See the sections above for each one and how to manage it.
Plan next season before the problems start
Most of the advice on this page comes down to timing and spacing — sowing at the right moment, rotating beds, and giving plants enough airflow. The UK Garden Planner lays your plot out month by month so those decisions are already made before the season starts.
Get the UK Garden Planner →Instant PDF download · Written for UK growing conditions
Last verified 2026-09-04
Where To Go From Here
Take this crop from reading into a written plan for your own beds.
Plan the next step
Use the printable SoilCommander planner for your region to turn this guide into sowing dates, bed layouts and weekly garden tasks.