Creeping thyme make a pretty and fragrant ground cover carpet , as well as a great trawl line in pots . It like a little grit in the soil and is promiscuous to grow .
Few plant provide the relief of alimony , beautiful coverage , and bright spring blooms , as Mother of thyme . This herbaceous plant , which is also called “ creeping thyme , ” can grow on top of thyme and make a thick , soft carpet of fuzzy , delicate folio . Creeping thyme plants are readily uncommitted at most nursery and can also be set up from divisions . choose a thyme ground cover is pure for poor soil areas and dry sites .
My current landscape painting is locate in something of a desert . Even though it ’s not a desert , the growing time of year are rough , dry , and windy , and the soil is sandy and loose . These unmanageable precondition have had me chafe my head on plant selection , but thyme was a no - brainer . This was my first year here . I made a itinerary out of river rocks and put little thyme flora all over it . Today , it is a luxuriant , green pathway and require very little care .
Looking for a furrowed , low - alimony ground cover that land year - round foliation and summer blossom ? Mother of thyme may be just what you take ! This trailing evergreen perennial thrives under infantry dealings and hard conditions , making it an excellent choice to spread out between pavers , soften garden edges , and shower over walls record on to learn all about spring up and worry for mother of thyme as a brave , aromatic groundcover
An Overview of Mother of Thyme
Mother of thyme ( Thymus praecox ) is a woody - based perennial in the mint kinfolk , also known by name like creeping thyme and woolly thyme . Native to parts of Europe and Asia , this tough industrial plant grows just 2 - 4 inches tall but spreads readily to form a dense , blurred green rug .
The bantam leafage are ellipse , format oppositely , and egress on thin creep stems that hug the ground Established plants can scatter 12 inches wide or more ! Come summer , small cannular lavender , pinkish , or white flowers appear , pull in pollinators with their honeyed redolence . female parent of thyme retains its foliage through winter in most climates
This stalwart herbaceous plant flourish in full Dominicus and lean sandy or rocky soils with secure drainage . Too much wet make rootage rot . The species is hardy to zone 5 with cultivated varieties extend the growing range . It requires minimum care once established . fleece it back after bloom to encourage dense growth .
Overall , mother of thyme make believe an splendid evergreen groundcover for nerve tract , rock gardens , gradient , perimeter , containers , and more ! The fragrant foliation releases its fragrance when mistreat on . Let ’s look more tight at growing and using this charming works .
Growing Conditions for Mother of Thyme
Here are the optimum growing conditions to aid mother of thyme brandish :
Sunlight : Full sun is required , with at least 6 hours of direct sun per Clarence Shepard Day Jr. . Partial shade will leave in reduced florescence and leggy growth .
Soil : Well - draining sandy , gravelly , or rocky soil is ideal . fend off wet , impenetrable , or Henry Clay soils that do n’t drain well .
pH : Soil pH between 6.0 and 8.0 is satisfactory , though it prefers neutral to slightly alkaline weather .
Water : Drought resistant once established , but occasional watering is needed during extend dry periods . Avoid overwatering .
Zones : Hardy in zone 5 - 10 depending on motley . Mulching recommended for cold zones .
Temperature : Tolerates summertime high temperature and humidness . Can treat dip to -20 ° F when give .
How to Plant & Propagate Mother of Thyme
female parent of thyme can be imbed from nursery scratch , cuttings , division , or seminal fluid :
Potted plants : flora in spring once the danger of icing has take place . Space 12 inches apart .
Cuttings : Take 3 - 4 in summit cuttings in summer . move out blossom and strip lower leave-taking . settle in light soil mix .
Division : Divide established plants in early spring or fall . Replant section 12 inches aside .
Seeds : Sow seed indoors 8 - 10 weeks before last spring icing . scarce cover with soil . Requires light and warm soil to pullulate .
This go after groundcover does n’t ask much on-going fear . Apply a slight layer of compost each saltation . urine during drought . Prune gently after bloom to advance bushy regrowth . water parting engorged plant every 2 - 3 year .
How to Use Mother of Thyme as a Groundcover
Thanks to its furrowed nature , mother of thyme serves beautifully as a groundcover in the landscape . Here are some choice :
unfold between pavers or stones along walkways and patio
shower over retaining paries , rock gardens , and terraces
soften the edge of garden beds and tree annulus
institute among stepping rock
cover slosh cant and hillsides prostrate to erosion
Trails attractively from container and hanging baskets
form a fragrant mat along edge presence
occupy in spaces between other garden plants
Provides a dense evergreen lawn substitute
The downhearted ontogenesis habit and tolerance for light foot dealings make mother of thyme staring for these applications . The foliation releases its minty scent when crushed underfoot .
Notable Mother of Thyme Varieties
While the species has pink - purple bloom , cultivated assortment offer more coloring diversity :
‘ Albus ’ – snowy flower on unripe leaf
‘ Coccineus ’ – Dark flushed blossom , also sold as Red Creeping Thyme
‘ Pink Chintz ’ – Bright pinkish bloom , great than the species
‘ Argenteus ’ – ash grey - immature leaves with lilac peak
‘ Aureus ’ – Golden yellow leaf bound , height just 1 in tall
There are also creep thyme kind with variegated or colourful leaf like ‘ Silver Queen ’ and ‘ Goldstream ’ . store for your favorites !
Problems & Pests to Watch For
When grown in the right conditions , mother of thyme is not susceptible to many effect . Avoid these potential problems :
Overwatering – Can head to theme rot , the primary cause of decease
wretched drain – Wet soils cause fungus and decay
Excess spectre – Leads to reduced flowering and tall-growing show
rough winters – Protect with mulch in zones 5 and 6
Few pests – Occasionally aphids , snails or slugs
Provide well - draining soil in full sunlight , avoid excessive moisture , and mother of thyme will stay lush and healthy for year of use !
The Many Benefits of Mother of Thyme
What make female parent of thyme such a treasured garden plant ?
Long flowering period from early summer into fall
Tolerates swooning foot dealings without harm
circulate quickly to spread over ground as a living mulch
Produces lovely flowers to attract pollinators
Remains evergreen through winter in warm zones
Features fragrant leaf perfect for sensory garden
Requires minimal criminal maintenance and tutelage
Thrives in poor , juiceless soils and challenging sites
Stays hefty and dense with casual shearing
add texture and beauty as a lawn or pathway substitute
Few plant life combine sturdy evergreen plant leafage , waves of colourful blooms , sweet fragrance , and the ability to thrive under footsteps like mother of thyme !
In Summary
If you ’re seeking a furrowed , low - maintenance spreading groundcover , mother of thyme is an splendid option . This trailing woody perennial flourish in full sun and skimpy soils , requires small precaution , and stands up well to foot traffic . The lilliputian blurred folio remain evergreen in warm zones and give off a minty fragrance when mash . Clusters of pink , imperial , or snowy flowers blanket the foliage in summer , attract pollinators .
Let mother of thyme shower gracefully over walls and walkways , fill gaps in stonework , break hardscape edge , cover banks and slopes , and serve as an aromatic evergreen lawn alternative . Give this rugged and various groundcover a try in your own landscape !
How and When to Plant Creeping Thyme
Early bound , when the ground can still be worked , is the right time to plant creeping thyme mulch . Prepare the area by adding supererogatory grainy material if necessary and loose the ground a few inches ( 7 . 62 cm . ) . Water in young plant life to settle soil around the shallow roots . Thyme may also be embed in free fall , 5 weeks before any expected freeze .
Mother of thyme does n’t require cut except to remove dead plant stuff . Some nurseryman like to cut off the spent flower to make the plant look well , but this is n’t necessary for its health .
Thyme grows well from seed but will take some metre to establish . Quicker results can be obtain from taking divisions from goodish plants . apprehend up a section and sever it from the parent , taking charge to preserve plenty of rootage .
When the plant gets woody and stops growing in some places , it ’s time to split it up and put it in a new pot . murder it from the container and divide it into 2 or 3 section . Fill the container with fresh , well draining , slightly gritty stain and install 1 or 2 division . Water in the soil to settle it and place the container where it will have passel of light .
Container bound plants may need to be take to a sheltered locating to winter . In dry land plant need small particular winter care if they are to the full established . Make trusted they drink a lot of water before it freezes , and then do n’t water them again until spring .
Gardening tips, videos, info and more delivered right to your inbox!
There is a diverseness of thyme for every motive , but not all of them will “ sneak . ” Most are deer resistant and prosper in abrasive positioning . There are 2 main specie normally used in the landscape . Thymus serpyllum , or risky thyme , and Thymus praecox , better known as woolly thyme , are widely available . Both are low - growing , somewhat woody , evergreen plants with okay leaves . hazardous thyme leaves are deeply greenish , while wooly thyme has fuzzy , grayish - green leaves .
Plant Features: Mother of Thyme
FAQ
Is female parent of thyme the same as pussyfoot thyme ?
What is the downside of mouse thyme lawn ?
Does thyme make a good ground covering fire ?
How fast does female parent of thyme grow ?
Is mouse thyme a good groundcover ?
creep thyme has many employment , but it ’s the good selection for groundcover for your flower bed . Using creeping thyme as groundcover go the life history out of invasive weeds , keep your flower bed free from weed growth . Planting creeping thyme in your garden allows you to relish the sweet-flavored redolence of the plant when it get to flower .
Is Thyme a well ground cover ?
This sound like a utter nominee for that . Ground cover plant can add colour and depth to a garden , footpath , or lawn . sneak thyme require little maintenance but grow bunch of beautiful leaf and color .
Is purplish carpet creeping thyme a ground natural covering ?
“ Purple Carpet ” creeping thyme is a beautiful , colorful alternative to grass . If you are looking to add some colouration and depth to your garden or lawn , you may reach that with a solid ground cover plant . dry land covers are low - grow , low - maintenance , and sometimes tolerate being walked on . Which Varieties Are Best ?
Is sneak thyme a gloomy - maintenance plant ?
creep thyme is a miserable - maintenance works . By fall out these few canonic steps , your plants should prosper . As with any plant , creep thyme has water requirements . It ’s important to apply the knuckle test to shape when your plant involve more water .
