Thymus vulgaris aka Garden Thyme

Thymus vulgaris, commonly known as common thyme, German thyme, garden thyme, or just thyme, is a species of flowering plant in the mint family Lamiaceae. Native to southern Europe, it can be found from the western Mediterranean to southern Italy. This compact, mat-forming, evergreen subshrub grows to a height of 15-30 cm (6-12 in) and a width of 40 cm (16 in). It has small, highly aromatic, grey-green leaves and clusters of purple or pink flowers that bloom in early summer. Thyme is often used as groundcover in gardens and can be easily propagated from cuttings. Apart from its ornamental value, it is also widely used as a culinary ingredient and herbal medicine. Thyme is slightly spicier than oregano and sweeter than sage. The Latin specific epithet vulgaris refers to its common and widespread nature. Found mainly in the southern part of Italy, Thymus vulgaris belongs to the perennial plants with a straight stem that can reach up to 20 cm (0.66 feet) in size. Its leaves are gray-green in color, and the flowers come in various shades of pink or white. In the wild, thyme can be found in forest regions.