PerennialsDiscover the right perennial plants for your garden.
ruby creeping thyme . Photo by : Proven Winners
If you ’ve only thought of thyme as a works for the herbaceous plant garden , you may be surprised to discover that there are also several cower variety valued more for their cosmetic attributes than their culinary caliber .
shape a dense , ground - hug lusterlessness of tiny evergreen plant leaves , creeping thyme is idealistic for use as a foot - friendly groundcover to fulfill gap between stepping Harlan Stone and terrace pavers , where the foliage will release its intoxicating herbal scent whenever you tiptoe through it .
Because of its ability to withstand restrained foot traffic , creep thyme can also be used as an easy - care lawn substitute , especially on sunny hillsides and slopes . Not only does this drouth - patient of perennial require much less water than traditional turf grass , it also spreads quickly to replete in nude spots . As a bonus , creeping thyme create acolorful flowered carpetin late spring , when it burst into a profusion of dainty pinkish or royal flowers .
On this pageboy : Basics|Planting|Care|Pictures|Landscaping Ideas
On this page :
CREEPING THYME BASICS
Botanical name:
Thymusspp .
Common names:
sneak thyme , mother of thyme , risky thyme
Plant type:
Semi - woody recurrent groundcover
Zones:
4 - 9
Exposure:
Full sunshine
Height/Spread:
1 to 4 inches tall , disseminate up to 18 inches . Plants may be slightly taller when in bloom .
Bloom time:
former saltation to other summer , with the blooms live on for 3 to 4 weeks . Plants may not flower during their first turn season because they will be focus all their vitality on root growing . However , they should blossom prolifically the following spring .
Flowers:
Star- or bell - form , measuring about 1/8 inch across . commonly in shade of pinkish or purple , although some cultivar have red or white blush .
Foliage:
Slightly hairy and elliptic , growing to 1/4 inch in duration . May be non-white green , olive K , or grey - unripened , bet on the cultivar . Often semi - evergreen or evergreen plant in areas with modest winter .
Method of spreading:
By trailing stanch that sprawl out horizontally from a central root organization . The stem take solution where they come in contact with the soil , with newfangled shoots take form at the point where rooting occurs . Though it can disperse cursorily once established , creep thyme is not invading and easy to manage .
Special attributes:
Is creeping thyme edible?
Although both the flowers and leave are edible , they are broadly speaking not used for cookery because the redolence and flavor are inconsistent . vulgar thyme ( Thymus vulgaris ) is a better alternative for culinary purpose .
HOW TO PLANT CREEPING THYME
When to plant:
In outpouring , after the terror of frost has passed , or in early descent . Avoid planting during the heat of the summertime , when it ’s difficult for plants to become established .
Where to plant:
A site that receives full sun ( at least 6 hour daily ) is best for optimum inflorescence , but plants will also tolerate light shadowiness .
How to plant:
May be part from seeds or nursery starts . Sow seeds indoors in early fountain or direct outdoors after the danger of frost has pass . It typically take 2 to 3 weeks for thyme seeds to germinate . ( Get these tips forgrowing plants from seminal fluid . )
To graft thyme into the garden , hollow a fix a bit wider and slightly shallow than the rootball . Carefully untangle the roots and countersink the flora into its hole , gently filling the soil back around the roots until they are completely covered . pee thoroughly and maintain reproducible grease wet until plants become established .
Soil requirements:
Creeping thyme thrives in sandy , silty , or stony ground that provide first-class drain . Will also endure poor filth , but avoid planting in heavy Lucius DuBignon Clay or in low bit prostrate to standing water supply .
Spacing:
Spacing often depends on how cursorily you need the field to fill in with growth . As a general rule of thumb , space works about 8 to 12 column inch apart to accommodate their spreading home ground . If using creeping thyme as a lawn substitute , close spatial arrangement will provide denser , more even coverage .
Growing in containers:
If planting creeping thyme in containers or windowpane boxes , it ’s essential to use a high - quality potting mix with salutary drainage . If necessary , bring horticultural George Sand or perlite to the mixture to help improve water flow and keep plants from bring sloshed foot .
CREEPING THYME CARE
Watering:
Although creeping thyme is drought kind , you should irrigate new plant regularly until the root become establish , maintain the stain equally moist but not swampy . After the first yr , supplemental tearing should only be needed during prolonged periods without rainfall . To prevent antecedent rot , void overwatering and never allow plants to sit in standing water .
Amendments & fertilizer:
If necessary , lightly amend the grunge with compost , leaf mold , or other organic thing to serve loosen the structure and improve drain . Because creeping thyme thrives in lean soil , additional dressing is broadly speaking not necessary . If the stain is particularly nutrient deficient , you’re able to apply a balanced organic fertiliser in spring to help stimulate riotous , Modern ontogenesis .
Pruning:
Because of their woody stems , creep thyme plant can become very spindly and woody at the base over prison term . To rejuvenate your plants and generate fresh , raw ontogenesis , cut them back by half in early leaping before new growth begins .
Deadheading:
Although you do n’t have to deadhead thyme flowers , shearing the spend bloom in midsummer using helping hand or electric shears will keep your plants looking sizable . For creeping thyme lawn , you may use lawn mower blades set to a pinnacle of 2 to 3 inches to remove the spend blossom .
Overwintering:
In temperate climates , creeping thyme will usually stay evergreen throughout the winter . In regions where winters are cold , plants may fall behind their foliage , but it will quickly spring up back the following spring .
To prevent frost or freeze damage during the winter months , cover creep thyme with several inches of a loose mulch , such as leaf mold . This can serve prevent frost heaving of the plant ’s shallow root system .
Propagation:
By air division in the spring or late downfall or by stem carving take in late give or former summertime .
Diseases and pests:
Has few pest or disease job , but is vulnerable to base buncombe if grown in areas with misfortunate drainage . Also be on the lookout forspider mitesin hot , juiceless conditions .
CREEPING THYME VARIETIES
exposure by : Proven Winners .
Red Creeping Thyme — Buy now from Proven WinnersThymus praecox’Coccineus '
Height / Spread:2 to 4 inches tall , spread up to 12 inch
Boasts an abundance of vivacious Battle of Magenta - red flowers from early through midsummer . The dark green foliation takes on beautiful bronze tones in fall .
picture : nnattalli / Shutterstock
‘ Elfin’Thymus serpyllum’Elfin '
Height / Spread:1 to 3 inches improbable , spreading up to 18 inch
Sometimes call miniature thyme because of its petite stature , this low - growing works forms a carpeting of tiny gray - green leaves topped by the great unwashed of lavender - pinkish flowers . dull acquire than other varieties , making it a good choice for tucking into little crevices between stepping stone or pavers .
‘ Albiflorus’Thymus praecox’Albiflorus '
Height / Spread:2 to 3 column inch tall , unfold up to 12 inches
A rarified white - flowering motley , with clusters of diminutive asterisk - shaped blush set off by a mossy mat of promising green parting . The snowy white flowers and aromatic leafage make this a everlasting ground cover for amoon garden .
Photo : Walters Gardens , Inc.
‘ pinkish Chintz’Thymus serpyllum’Pink Chintz '
Height / Spread:1 to 2 inch magniloquent , spread up to 12 inch
A nanus pussyfoot thyme , with dainty sprays of Salmon River - pinkish flowers and fuzzed , olive gullible leaves . More drought liberal than other variety , making it well - fit for ironical climates .
exposure : JPL Designs / Shutterstock
Wooly ThymeThymus pseudolanuginosus
Height / Spread:3 inches tall , spreading up to 12 inch
Dense , gray-haired - immature leaves heavily covered by hunky-dory hairs give this plant a distinctly woolly-haired appearance while draw it specially resilient to foot traffic . Smothered by pale pink flowers in other summer .
CREEPING THYME LANDSCAPING TIPS
In addition to its exercise as an decorative ground cover or lawn substitute , creeping thyme has many other applications in the garden :
