Herb garden and kitchen · Thymus vulgaris
Thyme: look, smell and learn
Such tiny leaves, such a big scent! The pair take a close look at thyme.
The short answer
Thyme has small narrow leaves on thin, partly woody stems. It likes sun and soil that drains well. Constantly wet roots do not suit its needs.
An imagined Wusel scene
Puschel and Flauschi investigate
Puschel crouches. Puschel“Such tiny leaves, such a big smell!” Flauschi points at a flower. Flauschi“Small certainly does not mean boring.”
Puschel tries to imagine the tiny leaves as a big umbrella. It does not work even in his imagination. Flauschi points out the partly woody twigs. Flauschi“We do not need to make something bigger to find it interesting.” Now he looks especially closely.
What it looks like
Small, narrow leaves on thin, partly woody stems.
Scent and cooking
Strong and aromatic; use sparingly with roasted vegetables or tomato sauce.
How it grows
Sun and well-drained soil; avoid soggy roots.
Little Wusel quiz
Which suits thyme better: sunny, well-drained soil or constantly wet soil? Explain.
Show answer
Sunshine and well-drained soil. Excess water should be able to drain away.
Word help
- oxygen
- A gas that people and many other living things need. Oxygen occurs in air and can also dissolve in water.
- well-drained
- Soil that lets excess water flow away rather than stay waterlogged.
Explore in more detail
Here you will find longer explanations and further details. You can explore them together.
Why does thyme dislike constantly wet soil?
Roots need oxygen, a gas in air, from air-filled spaces in soil as well as water. If water constantly fills those spaces, air becomes scarce. Thyme therefore does well in well-drained soil where excess water can escape. More watering is not always better care.
Compare and understand
Thyme forms low shoots that can become woody at the base. It is a subshrub, with a lasting woody lower part and softer upper shoots. Compare it with soft-stemmed basil in labelled pots. Both are kitchen herbs but do not need identical growing conditions or watering.