Is Thyme deer resistant?

Tough enough to walk on in the creeping forms, and reliably ignored by deer. It needs poor gritty soil and full sun, and rots in winter wet more often than it freezes.

Do deer eat thyme?

Rarely. Rutgers rates the genus A, Iowa State lists it in the top tier, and NC State says why in one line: "The leaves are very fragrant which makes the plant less attractive to browsing deer." Rabbits are on the same resistance list. A plant six inches tall that deer and rabbits both leave alone is a rare thing, and it is the reason thyme belongs at the front of a bed in deer country, where a deer would otherwise be nose-down in something soft.

Where it grows

Zones 5a to 9b for common thyme on NC State's range; the encyclopedia's 4 to 9 covers the hardier creeping species. Full sun, 6 to 12 inches, flowering May to July. Poor soil, drought, foot traffic and pollution are all on its resistance list, and NC State's problem list reads "No significant problems." It rots in winter wet more often than it freezes.

Protecting thyme

Nothing.

If it is browsed

It regrows from the woody base and flowers again; shearing after bloom is the standard care. A thyme that dies has drowned.