Thymus serpyllum , normally called crazy thyme , creeping thyme or mother - of - thyme , is a hairy , prostrate , creeping , woody - base perennial which is primarily grow as an cosmetic ground screening .
notice produce in flaxen area , roadsides , J. J. Hill , grasslands , or rocky country in its aboriginal Europe and Northwest China . The bloodline of the tidings “ thyme ” is from the Greek wordthumos , which means “ courage . ” During the Medieval Times , thyme was thought to have been an allegory of bravery . The Christian Bible “ thyme ” may also have been derived from the Greek wordthymos , mean “ perfume . ” The plants of this genus typically , are very fragrant .
About Creeping Thyme (Thymus spp.)
crawl thyme , an attractive herbaceous ground back that look like a shrub , gracefully circulate to make a colorful carpeting . This pocket-size plant is loved for its redolent perfume and compact emergence , and for its ability to grow in cheery garden surround . The plant features glistening green leaves and tight prime clustering on vertical stems .
Creeping thyme grows up to 3 ” ( 7.5 cm ) magniloquent and has creep woody stanch growing up to 24 ” ( 60 cm ) long . This plant is lively and various plant life ; it thrives in a phone number of climates but is in particular well - suit to USDA hardiness zones 4 through 9 .
Creeping thyme flowers are tiny ship’s bell - shaped blossoms , typically pink - majestic , magenta , or lilac . Some rare varieties of creep thyme also blossom with white blossom . The small cannular pinkish - imperial flowers produce 0.15 ” to 0.23 ” ( 4 – 6 mm ) long . Creeping thyme becomes a flowering flatness in late give and early summertime with a scent that range from herbal to highly lemony .
You have the selection to cultivate creeping thyme from seeds , but purchase glasshouse plants is a simpler route . Once you ’ve plant the seedling , creep thyme will rapidly propagate across stripped ground , fill gaps between stepping stones , or draping over retain wall or container . Once firmly frozen in your garden , this compact bush will flower each spring and summer , adorn your outdoor quad with vivacious pinkish , blood-red , or purple peak .
While creeping thyme is in the first place develop for ornamental purposes , some varieties are edible and have culinary uses . The leave of absence can be used fresh or dried to add flavor to a variety of dishes , including meats , stew , salads , and marinade . to boot , thyme has a long chronicle of usance in traditional medical specialty for its purported bactericide , antifungal , and antioxidant belongings .
Types of Creeping Thyme
Red Creeping Thyme
cherry-red creeping thyme is also known as Thymus praecox ‘ Coccineus ’ . It form a thick , circulate mat that grow tight to the ground . The foliage consists of pocket-size , oval - shaped leave that are green with hint of red or bronze . During the summertime months , it produces clusters of flyspeck flower that are a striking rich red colour , which attract pollinators like bee and butterfly . It reaches a height of only a few inches , but it can spread up to 18 inches or more .
Elfin crawl thyme
Elfin grovel thyme , also known as Thymus serpyllum ‘ Elfin ’ is a low - grow mat of leafage that hugs the ground close . The leaf are small , oval - influence , and typically bright green , sometimes with hints of bronze or purple . During the summertime months , it produces clusters of diminutive , tubular flowers that can array in color from white to light pink or lavender . It reaches a acme of only a few column inch and spreads slowly but steady .
White Flowering crawl Thyme
White Flowering creep Thyme also scientifically known as Thymus praecox ‘ Albiflorus , ’ . It is characterized by its small , oval - form , gray - unripened leaves that emit a pleasant fragrance when break down . It forms dense mat of foliage .
As the name evoke , this assortment produces tiny white-hot flush that appear in clusters during the late fountain and other summer . It typically gain a elevation of only a few inches but can circularise up to several foot . It is in the main hardy in USDA zones 4 - 9 .
Silver Needle Thyme
silvery acerate leaf thyme also scientifically known ( Thymus cherlerioides ) . This unusual species of groundcover thyme grows up to 10 cm gamy . silver grey needle thyme abundantly produces small , royal lipped flowers that draw a range of dissimilar insects . This thyme ’s unfolding period is from June to August . Unlike many other thyme that are grassy green , Silver Needle Thyme has a soft silvery dark-green hue . It is broadly hardy in USDA zone 5 - 9 .
Caraway Thyme(Thymus herba - barona )
Carum carvi thyme is a creeping , woody - base perennial , growing to 10 to 25 cm gamey and spreading out across the ground to a width of 30 cm . The leaf are dark calendered fleeceable and haired . The leafage has a strong aroma of Carum carvi . The flush are pinkish with four petals and a prominent modest lip . They are produced in previous spring and early summertime , and are attractive to bees and butterflies .
Caraway thyme has culinary applications . It match well with a sort of dishes , including meats , stews , soups , and roasted vegetable . It can also be used to flavor bread , cheese , and sauce .
Magic Carpet Creeping Thyme
Magic Carpet Creeping Thyme , is also scientifically known as Thymus serpyllum ‘ Magic Carpet ’ . It is a mat - forge thyme with a creeping maturation habit , spreading horizontally along the ground . The stems are woody at the base , but the foliage remains soft and herbaceous . The leaves are small , rounded , and densely packed along the stem . They go forth with bright green hues that conversion to spook of gilt yellow , orange , and red as they ripen .
While it is primarily grown for its decorative value , the leaves do have a subtle thyme - like smell . However , its culinary use are limited compared to other thyme varieties due to its small folio size .
Magic Carpet Creeping Thyme is relatively easy to grow and requires minimal maintenance once instal . It prefers full sun to fond shade and well - run out soil with moderate wet levels .
Purple Creeping Thyme
Purple creeping thyme , scientifically know as Thymus serpyllum ‘ Purple Creeping ’ forms a dense , mat - like earth cover that spreads horizontally . It pass a height of only 2 to 4 column inch ( 5 to 10 cm ) and can spread up to 12 to 18 inch ( 30 to 45 centimetre ) or more .
The leaves are diminished , oval - shaped , and are greenish - grey to dark fleeceable in color . This plant is typically unfearing in USDA zone 4 - 9 . It also sport abundant and vivacious purple flowers . The flowering period usually occurs in previous spring to early summer . The flowering period typically hold up several calendar week .
cower Woolly Thyme
mouse Woolly Thyme or Breckland thyme scientifically jazz as Thymus praecox ‘ Pseudolanuginosus , ’ forge a dim , mat - like ground natural covering that spread horizontally , typically attain a height of only 2 to 4 inches ( 5 to 10 centimeters ) with a counterpane of up to 12 to 18 inches ( 30 to 45 centimeters ) or more .
This thyme is named woolly because of its fuzzy , woolly foliage . The leaves are tiny , ellipse - shaped , and densely covered with fine tomentum , giving them a soft , silvery - grey appearance . The leafage remains evergreen in most climate , providing twelvemonth - bout interest to the garden even in cold months .
In late springiness to early summer , Creeping Woolly Thyme create clump of small , tubular flowers arrest above the leafage on brusque stem . The flowers can be pale pink to lavender . While the individual flower are small , they look in profusion , incubate the whole plant .
Woolly thyme plants can be easily set about from source indoors , or from little plugs that are readily available at your local nursery .
tolerant - Leaved Lemon Thyme(Thymus pulegioides )
Broad - leave thyme also refer to as lemon thyme is a creep dwarf evergreen shrub with woody stems and a taproot .
It sport broad , ellipse - shaped leave of absence with a shining texture . The leave are typically a vivacious green color and have a outstanding lemon yellow aroma and savour , which put this variety apart from other thyme species .
It is rather similar to wild thyme ( Thymus serpyllum ) but it is larger , and all the theme form flowering shoot . The crimson stems are squarish in cross - segment and have hairs on the edges .
The leaves are in opposite duad with forgetful stalk , and the linear ovate sword have tapering base and untoothed margins . The plant flowers in July and August .
The usually pinkish or mauve flush make rounded umbel and each has a electron tube - like calyx and an maverick straight - tube , hairy corolla . The upper petal is notch and the lower one is expectant than the two lateral petals and has three drop lobe which shape a lip . Each bloom has four projecting stamen and two amalgamate carpels .
Pink Chintz creep Thyme
Pink Chintz Creeping Thyme , scientifically know as Thymus serpyllum ‘ Pink Chintz , ’ forms a dense , scatter Master of Arts in Teaching of tiny , fragrant leaf . This multifariousness grows to a height of 2 to 4 inch ( 5 to 10 centimetre ) with a spread of 12 to 18 inches ( 30 to 45 cm ) . It produce finespun clusters of tiny salmon pinkish flush during the summer month . The leaves are little , oval - shaped , and give off a pleasant fragrance when crushed . This thyme is known for its hardiness , thriving in USDA hardiness zones 4 to 9 .
It is one of the first Thyme to bloom in leaping and is an excellent alternative for planting between flagstone and other stone pavers in patios , courtyards , and pathway .
Mediterranean Creeping Thyme ( Thymus longicaulis )
Mediterranean Creeping Thyme , scientifically bonk as Thymus longicaulis , is a coinage of thyme aboriginal to the Mediterranean region . It features small , analog to lance - form leaves that are white-haired - green in color .
It grows to a height of 2 to 4 column inch ( 5 to 10 cm ) and can open up to 12 to 18 inches ( 30 to 45 atomic number 96 ) or more . It is also well - adapted to the Mediterranean clime and is hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9 . During the summertime months , it produces clusters of bantam , cannular flowers that can range in color from pink to purple .
Mediterranean Creeping Thyme geminate well with other Mediterranean herbs such as rosemary , lilac-colored , and oregano . It also complements low - growing cosmetic grasses , sedums , and succulent in garden designs .
Lavender Thyme
Lavender thyme , scientifically know as Thymus x citriodorus ‘ lavender is a hybrid plant , combine the trait of English lavender ( Lavandula angustifolia ) and common thyme ( Thymus vulgaris ) .
lilac thyme is a comparatively low - growing with a spreading habit . On average , it can reach a height of 6 to 12 inch ( 15 to 30 centimeters ) and can spread up to 12 to 18 inches ( 30 to 45 centimeters ) wide .
lilac-colored thyme typically blooms in the summertime months , usually from later spring to other summertime , reckon on the local clime and arise conditions . The blossom of lavender thyme are small and cannular , with a lavender - pink hue .
