Thymus × citriodorus 'Argenteus': Silver Thyme with Lemon-Scented Variegated Leaves

Silver Thyme (Thymus × citriodorus 'Argenteus'), syn. T. vulgaris 'Argenteus', is an elegant addition to herb or ornamental gardens. Lemon-scented green leaves edged in silver produce lilac flowers in early summer. Thymes produce carpets of blossoms in pink, purple, or white. Native to dry grasslands of Eurasia; thrive in any dry, well-drained spot. Prostrate species spill over walls and grow between pavers where foot traffic releases aroma. Some used for cooking and tea; all ornament herb gardens.

Growing Conditions

Well-drained, average, neutral to alkaline soil in full sun. Shear in early spring; lightly trim after flowering. Propagate by division or mound-layering in spring/fall, softwood cuttings in early summer, semi-ripe cuttings in mid-to-late summer, or sow seed in spring. Thymes slow to germinate and hybridize regularly. Watch for gray mold, root rot.

Key Features at a Glance

• Height: 6–12 in.
• Spread: 1–3 ft.
• Growth Habit: Clumping, Moderate
• Light: Full Sun
• Moisture: Dry to Medium
• Maintenance: Low
• Characteristics: Attracts Butterflies, Fragrant Foliage, Showy Flowers, Showy Foliage
• Bloom Time: Early Summer, Summer
• Flower Color: Purple, White
• Foliage Color: Variegated
• Uses: Beds, Borders, Containers, Ground Cover, Naturalizing, Annual, Waterside, Cottage Garden, Herb Garden, Formal Garden, Rock Garden
• Tolerance: Deer, Frost
• Type: Herbs