How to Grow Lemon Thyme in Containers

Did you know that there are different types of thyme? Normally when you find thyme in the grocery store or, for sale at a farmers market, it will be some variety of common thyme (Thymus vulgaris). Common thyme is characterized by its woody stems and classic Mediterranean aroma. This post is not about common thyme.

This post is about lemon thyme (Thymus citriodorus). Lemon thyme is a variety of creeping thyme and I use it interchangeably with common thyme in any recipe that benefits from a citrus flavor. It is especially delicious (superior some might say) in citrus and savory teas.

Lemon thyme is slightly harder to harvest than common thyme due to its low to the ground growing habits and you will need to harvest multiple sprigs of lemon thyme in order to gather the same number of leaves that you would find in one sprig of common thyme. BUT, that being said, I think lemon thyme is an easier herb for beginners. Due to those same low to the ground growing habits, roots will grow anywhere that a branch comes in contact with the soil. More roots = harder to kill.

How to Grow Lemon Thyme

I started growing lemon thyme in containers and I highly recommend this method.

When grown in containers:

You can grow it anywhere
You can control moisture
It is easier to harvest as the branches will cascade over the sides of the pot
It won’t take over your garden – it spreads both via it’s roots

How to grow in containers:

Sun: Lemon thyme thrives in full sun to partial shade. I place my container in a location that receives a lot of sun in the morning but shade in the afternoon.
Moisture: This plant prefers a dryer growing medium. I let the soil dry out almost completely before giving the plant a deep watering. Honestly, I don’t usually have to water this plant at all because the rain does it for me.
Soil: This plant prefers well draining soil. I have kept my plant in a standard potting mix since 2019 and it has thrived! You do not need to regularly fertilize.
Container Size: I recommend planting this herb in a 10 inch pot. You can definitely start it in a smaller pot, but it grows quickly and if you start it in a large container you will never need to worry about up-potting it.
Planting/Propagating: You can plant this herb by seed, start or division. Since roots grow all along the stems, you can divide the plant and separate them into new pots to make new plants.
Yearly Maintenance: A good trim before the spring growing season really encourages lemon thyme to put on new growth during the summer. I usually trim all of the foliage that cascades over the edge of the pot.
Winterizing: If you live in a location with a mild winter, this plant does not need any special winter care. In Maryland I do not do anything to prepare for winter.
Pruning/Harvesting: Harvest stems all the way to the dirt but do not prune more than ⅓ of the plant at a time.
Preserving: You can hang stems to dry, lay them out in a basket or use a food dehydrator.

You can also grow lemon thyme in the ground or in a raised bed garden. Just make sure it has adequate sun and well draining soil.

Using Lemon Thyme

Lemon thyme can be used as a seasoning or as a tea.

Herb harvest with lemon thyme on the left.

As a seasoning the leaves and flowers can be used fresh or dry to flavor vegetables, soup, meats, seafood, and pretty much any food that would benefit from a savory citrus flavor. I love to use fresh lemon thyme in vegetarian split pea soup.

You can use the dried leaves, stems and flowers to make a tea (you can also use fresh leaves, but it will take a lot more leaves). I like to use lemon thyme in combination with lemon balm or lemon grass to make a soothing lemony beverage or in combination with lavender to create a sleepy time beverage. Many people believe it can help with menstrual cramps and I use it to help with sore throats.

Basic Lemon Thyme Tea

Steep 2 tsp fresh or dried aerial parts in one cup of water for 10 minutes. Add honey for maximum throat soothing properties.

As always, consult with your doctor if you plan on using herbs medicinally. Some resources recommend avoiding thyme tea while pregnant in order to prevent a miscarriage.

Additional Resources

Online Resources:

Books I love:

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