Thyme Compact, also known as Thymus Vulgaris 'Compactus', Common Thyme, or Garden Thyme, is native to Europe and Morocco. This plant has a compact, ground-covering habit of 6" tall, spreading to 16" wide. It offers white flowers in summer and perennial aromatic foliage in zone 6-10. Thyme Compact flourishes in containers, landscape beds, and herb gardens, requiring little more than occasional water and a sunny location with well-drained soil to thrive. Compact's simple care and traditional Thyme scent and flavor make it the most popular variety. It is excellent fresh or dried in culinary use. For a Lemon Thyme variety, try Thyme Citriodorus. For a Thyme well-suited for ornamental application, try Variegated.
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Thyme Compact Selling Tips
Sell Thyme Compact to customers looking for traditional Thyme to add to an herb garden. This plant has many benefits to offer your customer, from aromatic foliage to simple care. Use the leaves in a wide variety of culinary applications. This most popular perennial variety offers evergreen foliage and white flowers in summer. Thyme Compact is drought-tolerant, resistant to deer and rabbits, attractive to pollinators, and flourishes in light, well-drained soil with full sun and only occasional watering.
Coach Your Customer
1. Space plants 12-14 inches apart in well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Water occasionally or less in wet weather.
2. Trim foliage when it begins to get leggy.
3. Harvest leaves for culinary use just before flowering for the best flavor. Use foliage fresh or dry it for continued use.
General Growing Tips For Your Rooted Cutting Liner
For best results with Thyme Compact, use well-drained soil in full sun with a constant liquid feed program on well-rooted plants of 150-200 ppm N and a pH of 6.5-7.5. Plant one rooted liner per 4-inch container and pinch once after transplanting. Thyme doesn't attract pests, but take precautions against root rot.
Flowering
White flowers bloom in summer.
Pinching
Pinch once after transplanting.
Spacing
Space 4-inch containers as needed to allow airflow and penetration of light between plants. Thyme Compact can grow to a 16" spread. We do not recommend planting rooted plugs in 1801 or other traditional market trays as they tend to get leggy and can develop fungus when they have insufficient space.
Height Control
We do not recommend using chemical growth regulators on herbs.
Pests
This plant isn't prone to pests.
Disease
Thyme Compact isn't disease prone but avoid oversaturating the soil. If the plant sits in moist soil at length, you could end up with root rot or botrytis. Botrytis grey rot tends to occur in wet or humid conditions. Take these steps to prevent botrytis: water in the morning and allow the plant to dry out between waterings; provide good airflow in your greenhouse; space plants so the sun can penetrate to the soil level. To best fight root rot in herbs, use a garden-safe fungicide, like Neem Oil.
Planting Thyme Compact Liners
We recommend planting one rooted plug per 4-inch container. Use light, well-drained soil and completely bury the ellepot in the center of the pot.
Rooted Cuttings
Cuttings vary in size between different plant families. These rooted starter plants will arrive ready to be transplanted in to your final container. If they are to be used in a landscape application, you will need to establish them in a 4 inch pot or an 1801 before planting outside.
Herb Thyme Compact Quick Reference Guide
| 4 Inch crop time | 6 Weeks |
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| Bloom Period | Summer |
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| Color | White |
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| Habit | Spreading |
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| Height | 6 inches |
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| Light | Full Sun, Partial Shade |
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| Minimum Temp | 54 |
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| Perennial Zone | 6-10 |
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| Water Needs | Light |
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| Patented Plant | No |
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