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Thyme planting zones

Thyme (Thymus) is a perennial. By the type table below, at least one type lives through winter in the ground in 4a–9b; colder than that, it is a pot plant or a one-season crop. Below the types are the dates that decide when it goes out and when it comes in: each zone’s median last spring freeze and first fall freeze, from NOAA records.

Published October 23, 2026 · Cite this page

The types

Which thyme to grow

Type Hardy in the ground Notes
Common thyme Thymus vulgaris (English and French thyme) 5a to 9b, then too hot or humid Penn State rates it zones 5 to 9. ‘Narrow Leaf French’ is the chefs’ choice and ‘Broadleaf English’ the most robust (Penn State).
‘German Winter’ thyme Thymus vulgaris ‘German Winter’ 4a to 9b, then too hot or humid A very winter-hardy plant with good culinary flavor (Penn State).
Lemon thyme Thymus × citriodorus 5a to 9b, then too hot or humid Light lemon taste and scent (Penn State). Illinois groups lemon, lime and orange thymes as the citrus thymes.
Creeping and wild thyme Thymus praecox, Thymus serpyllum 4a to 8b, then too hot or humid Penn State: creeping thyme grows 2 to 3 inches tall and is an excellent ground cover; wild thyme suits edging.
Woolly thyme Thymus pseudolanuginosus 5a to 8b, then too hot or humid Prostrate, for rock gardens and between pavers (Penn State). Clemson says woolly types tolerate heat and humidity less.

Zone ranges are a judgement: horticultural convention set beside what the sources below say, not a measurement. They agree with our What survives my winter tool. In the next table the freeze dates are measured, and the count of hardy types comes from these judged ranges.

Zone by zone

Where thyme lives through winter, and when the freezes fall

Each date is the median across every NOAA station the zone’s ZIP codes cite, 1991–2020 normals. The middle half of those stations falls within the range shown beside it.

Zone Types hardy in the ground Last spring freeze First fall freeze
3a 0 of 5 only 10 stations with comparable freeze dates — too few to publish a date
3b 0 of 5 May 18 · middle half May 15 – May 25 September 23 · middle half September 17 – September 26
4a 2 of 5 May 15 · middle half May 10 – May 21 September 27 · middle half September 22 – September 30
4b 2 of 5 May 11 · middle half May 5 – May 23 September 30 · middle half September 23 – October 3
5a 5 of 5 May 9 · middle half May 1 – May 20 October 2 · middle half September 26 – October 7
5b 5 of 5 May 4 · middle half April 27 – May 15 October 8 · middle half October 1 – October 14
6a 5 of 5 May 1 · middle half April 24 – May 9 October 14 · middle half October 5 – October 20
6b 5 of 5 April 25 · middle half April 17 – May 3 October 20 · middle half October 11 – October 24
7a 5 of 5 April 19 · middle half April 11 – April 27 October 23 · middle half October 17 – October 28
7b 5 of 5 April 8 · middle half April 3 – April 16 October 30 · middle half October 25 – November 3
8a 5 of 5 March 30 · middle half March 25 – April 5 November 5 · middle half November 1 – November 10
8b 5 of 5 March 20 · middle half March 13 – March 29 November 12 · middle half November 7 – November 18
9a 3 of 5 March 5 · middle half February 24 – March 15 November 24 · middle half November 18 – December 2
9b 3 of 5 February 12 · middle half January 30 – February 25 December 8 · middle half December 1 – December 17
10a 0 of 5 107 of 190 stations here record no ordinary freeze, so there is no freeze date to count from
10b 0 of 5 70 of 79 stations here record no ordinary freeze, so there is no freeze date to count from
11a 0 of 5 34 of 34 stations here record no ordinary freeze, so there is no freeze date to count from
11b 0 of 5 12 of 12 stations here record no ordinary freeze, so there is no freeze date to count from

“Types hardy in the ground” is a judgement, from the type table above. The freeze dates are measured.

A zone does not tell you your own dates. Inside a single zone the median last spring freeze still varies by 34 days from station to station, so the box below gives the dates of the NOAA station nearest your ZIP code.

Your ZIP code

Your ZIP, your answer

Enter your ZIP code to see your USDA zone, how many of the 5 types on this page live through that zone’s winter and when its freezes fall, read from the table on this page, and the freeze dates of the NOAA station nearest you.

Works for all 40,502 US ZIP codes. Freeze dates need a NOAA station within 100 km; where there is none, the page says so rather than estimating one. Your ZIP code stays in your browser: the page downloads the file of ZIP codes that share its first three digits and looks yours up there. It is not stored or tracked.

Your answer appears here.

Full details for any ZIP code: ZIP code zone finder.

Which thyme for your zone

Penn State Extension rates common thyme (Thymus vulgaris) a perennial for zones 5 to 9. It names ‘Narrow Leaf French’, preferred by chefs for a lighter, sweeter taste; ‘Broadleaf English’, the most robust; and ‘German Winter’, very winter-hardy with good culinary flavor. Lemon thyme has a light lemon taste and scent, creeping thyme grows only 2 to 3 inches tall and makes an excellent ground cover, and woolly thyme suits rock gardens and the gaps between pavers.

University of Illinois Extension calls French and English thyme the most popular culinary types, and groups the lemon, lime and orange thymes as the citrus thymes.

For the South, Clemson’s Home & Garden Information Center says taller thymes and those with smooth leaves tolerate heat and humidity better than low-growing or woolly types. UF/IFAS Northwest District calls thyme the smallest evergreen herb that does well in Northwest Florida.

Planting

Illinois says thyme is much easier to grow from divisions or cuttings than from seed. Penn State sows seed in spring in a tray or scattered on the ground, keeps young plants moist and thins them to about 12 inches apart, and warns that thyme grown from seed may take several years to mature enough to harvest. Penn State divides established plants in spring and takes 4-inch cuttings from new growth in late spring.

UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions says thyme can be planted from seed in either late fall or early spring in Florida. Texas A&M’s Growing Herbs in Texas starts seed indoors and spaces plants 10 to 12 inches apart in full sun and well-drained soil.

Sun, soil and water

Penn State grows thyme in full sun to partial shade, in light, dry, well-drained soil, and says that once established it needs little water and no fertilizer. Clemson says to plant it in full sun in very well drained soil that stays dry, and UF/IFAS says it does best in full sun and tolerates drought well.

Illinois amends the soil with organic matter but insists on drainage: poorly drained soil, especially over the winter, shortens thyme’s useful life. University of Minnesota Extension says most herbs grow best in well-drained soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5, and that rich soils promote fast, lush growth but reduce the oils that give herbs their flavor and aroma.

In Florida, UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions says most herbs do well in the same sun and soil as vegetables, and that adding organic matter helps in sandy soils because herbs are shallow rooted. It names thyme among the easiest herbs to grow there.

Keeping it from going woody

Penn State says to trim plants to limit woody growth or stimulate new growth, and that plants may become overly woody over time and need to be replaced. Illinois says thyme becomes woody as it ages and should be renewed every few years by cutting it back severely in spring, which brings young, tender stems.

Harvesting for the kitchen

Penn State harvests the leafy branches just before the plant flowers, on a dry day after the dew is gone and before midday. Illinois says stems can be cut through the season but are best cut just before the plant starts to flower, and that thyme’s flavor holds up to long, slow cooking in soups, stews, casseroles, stuffing and poultry dishes.

The Texas and Florida sources time it later. Texas A&M’s bulletin gives both: harvest leaves and flower clusters before the first flowers open, and, in its general harvesting advice, clip the tops of thyme when plants are in full bloom. UF/IFAS removes the top third of the plant when it is in full bloom.

Getting thyme through winter

Penn State says perennial herbs should be protected in winter: many are shallow-rooted and heave during spring thaws. It mulches with straw, oak leaves or evergreen boughs 4 inches deep after the ground has frozen in early winter, and leaves the mulch until the plants show growth in early spring.

University of Minnesota Extension mulches hardy perennial herbs with 2 to 5 inches of straw, compost, leaves or marsh hay, to stabilize soil temperatures, reduce winter injury and conserve moisture in summer.

For a winter supply indoors, Illinois pots thyme in the fall and grows it in a bright, sunny spot, in a pot with ample drainage, keeping the soil on the dry side.

Common problems

Penn State lists root rot, fungal diseases and spider mites, and notes that red spider mites may be found on low-growing herbs in hot, dry weather. Illinois says wet soil over winter shortens the plant’s life. Texas A&M’s survey of Texas herb crops says several types of thyme are grown commercially in Texas.

Common mistakes

We found no Texas home-garden source on thyme beyond Texas A&M’s statewide bulletin, Growing Herbs in Texas (2009), which gives starting and spacing only.

Questions

What zone does thyme grow in?
Penn State rates common thyme for zones 5 to 9, and calls ‘German Winter’ very winter-hardy. The type table on this page gives each type’s range, as a judgement.
Why is my thyme getting woody?
Penn State says thyme can become overly woody over time; trim it to limit woody growth, and replace plants that have gone too far. Illinois renews plants every few years by cutting them back severely in spring.
When should I harvest thyme?
Penn State and Illinois cut it just before the plant flowers; Penn State picks on a dry day after the dew is gone and before midday. Texas A&M’s bulletin also says to clip the tops in full bloom, and UF/IFAS removes the top third of the plant when it is in full bloom.
Can thyme grow in partial shade?
Penn State lists full sun to partial shade. Clemson and UF/IFAS both say full sun, and Clemson wants very well drained soil that stays dry.

Sources

Freeze dates on this page are NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals, for every station the ZIP codes in each zone cite. Zones are the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023. The type table is a judgement, as labelled above. Growing advice is quoted from the extension publications below, each written for its own area.

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Published October 23, 2026

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