Redbank Research Station A printed copy with photos is available . Thyme, a small, upright shrub growing 20-40 cm in height, belongs to the Labiatae family. Pink to lilac, and rarely white, flowers are borne in clusters near tips of shoots in early summer.
Leaves are small and grey-green.
Other species of regional importance for both culinary herb and essential oil production include T. serpyllum, T. zygis and T. mastichina . Lemon-scented cultivars of thyme are grown on a small scale for fresh and dried culinary herb production. Thymus vulgaris is native to the western Mediterranean region, extending to south eastern Italy. Thymus serpyllum has a wider natural range in much of western Europe, while T. zygis and T. mastichina are restricted to the Iberian Peninsula. Uses Fresh and dried thyme is used as a traditional culinary seasoning.