About Thymus vulgaris L.
Thymus vulgaris, commonly called common thyme, German thyme, garden thyme, or simply thyme, is a flowering plant species belonging to the mint family Lamiaceae. It is native to southern Europe, ranging from the western Mediterranean to southern Italy. This bushy, woody-based evergreen subshrub grows 15–30 cm (6–12 inches) tall and reaches around 40 cm (16 inches) wide. It has small, highly aromatic grey-green leaves, and produces clusters of purple or pink flowers in early summer. When grown in gardens as groundcover, it can be short-lived, but is easily propagated from cuttings. This species is also the main source of thyme used both as a cooking ingredient and as a herbal medicine. Its flavor is slightly spicier than oregano and sweeter than sage. The Latin specific epithet vulgaris means "common", in the sense of "widespread".
