Pest identification
What's eating my silver thyme?
Aphids
Signs: Soft green or grey colonies at growing tips; distorted, yellowing shoots; honeydew deposits
Control: Spray with insecticidal soap or strong water jets; pinch off affected tips; most thyme plants recover quickly without treatment
Spider mites (Tetranychus urticae)
Signs: Fine webbing on undersides of leaves; speckled, bronzed or grey foliage; mainly in hot, dry conditions or under cover
Control: Increase humidity; spray undersides of leaves with water or neem oil; introduce Phytoseiulus persimilis predatory mites
Vine weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus)
Signs: Notched leaf edges from adult beetles; more seriously, white C-shaped grubs destroy roots in containers causing sudden plant collapse
Control: Apply Steinernema kraussei nematodes to compost in autumn; use peat-free, gritty compost that discourages egg-laying
Keep silver thyme pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Silver Thyme pests — FAQ
What is eating my silver thyme?
Silver Thyme is a tough, aromatic herb that most insects avoid. Aphids occasionally cluster on soft new growth, and spider mites appear in hot, dry conditions. Root weevil grubs can damage container-grown plants. Outdoors, rabbits will browse thyme when other food is scarce but generally prefer more palatable herbs.
How do I get rid of aphids on silver thyme?
Soft green or grey colonies at growing tips; distorted, yellowing shoots; honeydew deposits Spray with insecticidal soap or strong water jets; pinch off affected tips; most thyme plants recover quickly without treatment
How do I get rid of spider mites (tetranychus urticae) on silver thyme?
Fine webbing on undersides of leaves; speckled, bronzed or grey foliage; mainly in hot, dry conditions or under cover Increase humidity; spray undersides of leaves with water or neem oil; introduce Phytoseiulus persimilis predatory mites
How do I get rid of vine weevil (otiorhynchus sulcatus) on silver thyme?
Notched leaf edges from adult beetles; more seriously, white C-shaped grubs destroy roots in containers causing sudden plant collapse Apply Steinernema kraussei nematodes to compost in autumn; use peat-free, gritty compost that discourages egg-laying