Bressingham Thyme
Growth habit
Herbaceous
Perennation
Long-lived polycarpic perennial
Location
Source of plant
Sandy Mush Herb Nursery
Description
Plant prostrate; stems woody at base, allelotrichous (holotrichous in first one or two internodes belowinflorescence) with long, spreading hairs, flowering stems 2-4(-6) cm long, erect; creeping, non-flowering branches present. Leaves shortly petiolate, linear-spatulate or narrowly obovate, 4.5-10.0 mm long, 1.0-2.0 mm wide, obtuse, attentuate, with sparse long hairs above, subglabrous below, glands sparse; venation pseudomarginal; margin flat, ciliate in lower one-third. Inflorescence capitate, 0.8-1.3 cm in diameter; bracts similar to leaves. Calyx 3-4 mm long; tube campanulate, pubescent, yellowish; teeth purple, ciliate, the upper lanceolate, to 1 mm long, the lower subulate, ca. 2 mm long. Corolla rose-purple, 3-6 mm long, tube slightly exserted. Mid-May to mid-June. This prostrate cultivar blooms earlier than most species of Thymus, and the rose-purple flowers are numerous and very showy. Plants are evergreen, rather slow-growing, and a good choice for use in the rock garden.
USDA Hardiness Zone
5
Special characteristics
winter interest