This culinary thyme self-sows easily in my Oregon, zone 8, growing conditions. It is my favorite "go to" cooking herb in my garden. I have it growing in a raised bed with sandy loam soil, topped with chicken grit. Seems to be very drought tolerant in our hot and dry summer months of July, August, and September. The plant in the photo taken 11/21/2015 is 4 years old and seems very happy planted in one of the cinder block holes. I imagine the roots have run very deep down the two stacked blocks.
"Thymus citriodorus is an evergreen sub-shrub, growing to 3.9 inches in height by 12 inches in spread. It prefers full sun and well draining soil. The bloom period is mid to late summer, with pink to lavender flowers that are a nectar source for bees and butterflies.
Valuable source of nectar for honey bees.
I often find thymes to be problematic, dying out from the center after a couple years. The coccineus group has been more successful in my PNW Zone 8 garden, spreading nicely and maintaining a solid presence. As with all thymes, this one is a definite bee magnet. Likes warm, light, well drained soil that is fairly dry. Nice between stepping stones or in rockeries.
