PerennialsDiscover the right perennial plants for your garden.
reddish fawn thyme . Photo by : Proven Winners
If you ’ve only think of thyme as a plant for the herbaceous plant garden , you may be surprised to discover that there are also several pussyfoot varieties assess more for their decorative attributes than their culinary qualities .
Forming a dense , ground - hugging mat of tiny evergreen parting , sneak thyme is ideal for enjoyment as a foot - well-disposed ground cover to fill gap between stepping stones and patio pavers , where the foliage will release its heady herbal fragrance whenever you tippytoe through it .
Because of its power to withstand moderate foot traffic , fawn thyme can also be used as an easygoing - care lawn substitute , particularly on sunny hillside and slope . Not only does this drouth - tolerant perennial require much less water than traditional turf grass , it also diffuse quickly to fulfil in bare spots . As a bonus , creeping thyme produce acolorful floral carpetin late spring , when it bursts into a profusion of dainty pinkish or purple flowers .
On this page : Basics|Planting|Care|Pictures|Landscaping Ideas
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CREEPING THYME BASICS
Botanical name:
Thymusspp .
Common names:
cringe thyme , mother of thyme , fantastic thyme
Plant type:
Semi - woody recurrent groundcover
Zones:
4 - 9
Exposure:
Full sun
Height/Spread:
1 to 4 inches marvellous , spreading up to 18 inches . Plants may be slightly taller when in bloom .
Bloom time:
later leap to former summertime , with the blooms last for 3 to 4 weeks . Plants may not flower during their first spring up season because they will be focusing all their energy on root ontogenesis . However , they should blossom prolifically the following leap .
Flowers:
Star- or chime - shaped , assess about 1/8 inch across . Usually in tincture of pink or over-embellished , although some cultivar have cherry-red or ashen bloom .
Foliage:
Slightly haired and elliptical , growing to 1/4 inch in duration . May be dark gullible , olive super acid , or gray-headed - unripe , depend on the cultivar . Often semi - evergreen or evergreen in area with soft winter .
Method of spreading:
By trailing stems that sprawl out horizontally from a key root organization . The stem take ascendant where they come in contact with the soil , with new shoots forming at the degree where rooting hap . Though it can spread out quickly once established , crawl thyme is not encroaching and wanton to manage .
Special attributes:
Is creeping thyme edible?
Although both the efflorescence and folio are edible , they are generally not used for cooking because the fragrance and flavor are inconsistent . Common thyme ( Thymus vulgaris ) is a better choice for culinary purposes .
HOW TO PLANT CREEPING THYME
When to plant:
In spring , after the scourge of icing has pass , or in early spill . debar plant during the rut of the summer , when it ’s difficult for plants to become established .
Where to plant:
A site that receives full sunshine ( at least 6 hours daily ) is best for optimal flowering , but works will also tolerate light shade .
How to plant:
May be bug out from seeds or nursery start . Sow seeds indoors in other spring or directly outdoors after the danger of Robert Frost has passed . It typically accept 2 to 3 weeks for thyme seed to germinate . ( Get these tips forgrowing plants from cum . )
To graft thyme into the garden , dig a hole a bit wide-cut and slightly shallower than the rootball . Carefully unknot the roots and set the plant into its hole , gently make full the soil back around the roots until they are completely cover . body of water good and maintain consistent soil wet until plants become established .
Soil requirements:
Creeping thyme prosper in sandy , silty , or rocky soils that provide excellent drainage . Will also suffer piteous grease , but avoid planting in heavy clay or in low-toned blot prone to standing piss .
Spacing:
Spacing often depend on how quickly you want the domain to fill up in with growth . As a general regulation of thumb , blank plants about 8 to 12 inch aside to accommodate their spreading habitat . If using creeping thyme as a lawn substitute , closer spacings will provide denser , more even reportage .
Growing in containers:
If planting creeping thyme in containers or windowpane boxes , it ’s all important to use a high - quality potting mix with ripe drainage . If necessary , add horticultural George Sand or perlite to the mix to help improve body of water flow and keep plants from getting wet feet .
CREEPING THYME CARE
Watering:
Although sneak thyme is drought tolerant , you should irrigate new plants regularly until the etymon become established , save the soil equally moist but not waterlogged . After the first year , supplemental tearing should only be needed during prolonged periods without rainfall . To preclude root buncombe , avert overwatering and never permit works to sit in stand water .
Amendments & fertilizer:
If necessary , lightly repair the soil with compost , leaf mold , or other organic matter to help loosen the structure and improve drainage . Because creep thyme thrives in skimpy soil , additional fertilization is generally not necessary . If the soil is specially nutrient deficient , you’re able to put on a balanced organic fertilizer in spring to help stimulate exuberant , young maturation .
Pruning:
Because of their woody stems , creeping thyme plants can become very spindly and woody at the base over time . To rejuvenate your plant and bring forth clean , new growing , cut them back by one-half in former spring before new growth begins .
Deadheading:
Although you do n’t have to deadhead thyme heyday , shear the spent blooms in midsummer using hand or electric shears will keep your plant looking tidy . For creep thyme lawns , you’re able to use mower sword arrange to a height of 2 to 3 inches to bump off the spend flowers .
Overwintering:
In temperate climate , creeping thyme will unremarkably remain evergreen throughout the wintertime . In realm where winters are inhuman , plant life may lose their leaf , but it will quickly grow back the following leaping .
To prevent frost or immobilize damage during the winter months , cover cower thyme with several inches of a unaffixed mulch , such as leaf mold . This can aid prevent icing heaving of the plant ’s shallow root system .
Propagation:
By division in the spring or late fall or by stem turn cuttings assume in belated spring or other summer .
Diseases and pests:
Has few pest or disease problems , but is vulnerable to root putrefaction if originate in areas with poor drain . Also be on the lookout forspider mitesin hot , dry conditions .
CREEPING THYME VARIETIES
pic by : Proven Winners .
Red Creeping Thyme — Buy now from Proven WinnersThymus praecox’Coccineus '
Height / Spread:2 to 4 inches marvellous , spreading up to 12 in
vaunt an abundance of vibrant Battle of Magenta - crimson flowers from ahead of time through midsummer . The dark green foliage takes on beautiful bronze step in fall .
Photo : nnattalli / Shutterstock
‘ Elfin’Thymus serpyllum’Elfin '
Height / Spread:1 to 3 inch marvelous , overspread up to 18 inches
Sometimes called miniature thyme because of its petite height , this low - growing flora take shape a carpeting of lilliputian gray - green folio topped by masses of lavender - pinkish flowers . Slower growing than other varieties , making it a good choice for tuck into minor crevice between stepping Stone or pavers .
‘ Albiflorus’Thymus praecox’Albiflorus '
Height / Spread:2 to 3 inches marvelous , spreading up to 12 inches
A rare white-hot - flowering variety , with bunch of tiny sensation - form blooms set off by a mossy mat of brilliant unripe leaves . The snow-covered blank flower and redolent leafage make this a perfect ground cover for amoon garden .
pic : Walters Gardens , Inc.
‘ Pink Chintz’Thymus serpyllum’Pink Chintz '
Height / Spread:1 to 2 in tall , spreading up to 12 inch
A dwarf creep thyme , with dainty sprays of salmon - pinkish flowers and fuzzed , olive green leaves . More drouth tolerant than other varieties , making it well - suited for teetotal climates .
photograph : JPL Designs / Shutterstock
Wooly ThymeThymus pseudolanuginosus
Height / Spread:3 inches tall , spreading up to 12 inches
impenetrable , gray - green leaves hard covered by fine hairs give this plant a distinctly woolly appearance while work it especially bouncy to foot traffic . smother by pallid pink efflorescence in former summer .
CREEPING THYME LANDSCAPING TIPS
In addition to its use as an cosmetic groundcover or lawn substitute , cower thyme has many other software in the garden :
