Growing to 15–30 cm (6–12 in) tall by 40 cm (16 in) wide, it is a bushy, woody-based evergreen subshrub with small, highly aromatic, grey-green leaves and clusters of purple or pink flowers in early summer.

[3] It is also the main source of thyme as an ingredient in cooking and as a herbal medicine.

The Latin specific epithet vulgaris means “common” in the sense of “widespread”.

[5] French, German and English varieties vary by leaf shape and colour and essential oils.

[7] The cultivar 'Silver Queen', with white-margined leaves, has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.