All types of thyme are hardy; perhaps with the onset of spring you should shear it back to get rid of the shaggy look. The only other type you might consider is creeping thyme which can be used as a ground cover or spilling over walls or rockeries. It also has the feature that it is available in different scents/flavors

Here is a link that might be useful: Creeping thyme

I believe, though, that the Thymus vulgarus, ie. basic species thyme, is hardier than the others, particularly in zones 5-6. I know it will come back for me when some of the others do not.

In my experience, thyme just looks quite scraggly at the end of winter, until it is clipped back and starts growing out again. I consider myself lucky if it just winters over and survives. In my particular situation, it winters over better in a pot than in the ground, apparently because it can't take the freezing and thawing of water retained in my heavy clay soil.

I am rarely able to offer any plants full sun, though, which makes a big difference with plants such as thyme.

I agree. The common old thyme, T. vulgaris, is very hardy for the gardens. I don't clip mine in the spring - mine pushes new growth all by itself. I found lemon thyme to not be as robust/hardy.

FataMorgana

I have seeds, (and some seedlings) for T. vulgaris-English thyme from botanical interests. how can i grow them indoors, or some outside to protect them? should I wait until they are well established in pots first?