What's eating my lemon thyme?

Lemon thyme faces the same modest pest load as other thymes: spittlebugs are the most visible nuisance in early summer, and aphids target soft new growth. Spider mites appear in drought stress. The lemon-scented volatile oils mean rabbits and deer leave it alone, making it one of the lower-maintenance herbs to grow.

Characteristic white foam blobs around stems in May and June; sap-feeding nymphs inside the froth weaken soft shoot tips Dislodge with a strong water jet; hand-remove where possible; no pesticide usually needed on mature plants

Soft green or grey insects clustered on new growth; sticky honeydew on leaves attracts sooty mould Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; attract natural predators such as hoverflies by growing nearby nectar plants

Tiny pale speckling across leaves with fine webbing on undersides, most common in hot dry summers Mist foliage and improve soil moisture; apply neem oil spray targeting leaf undersides; prune out worst-affected stems