Wild Thyme

Growth habit

Herbaceous

Perennation

Long-lived polycarpic perennial

Location

Robison Herb Garden, Heasley Rock Garden

Source of plant

Baker's Acres, Harriet Ballard Flannery, Rocknoll Nursery, White Flower Farm, Sandy Mush Herb Nursery

Description

Thymes (sometimes commonly called red creeping thyme, wild thyme or mother-of-thyme) in the Coccineus Group are creeping, woody based perennials which are primarily used as a ground cover. Numerous, thin, somewhat woody stems form a flat mat (2-3" tall) with tiny, rounded, glossy blue-green leaves (to 1/4"). Although leaves are aromatic, strength of scent varies according to season and habitat and leaves are usually not considered to be of culinary quality. Clusters of tiny, tubular, deep pink flowers appear in summer. Flowers are attractive to bees. The Coccineus Group is often also listed for sale by nurseries as a cultivar of T. praecox or T. praecox subsp. arcticus.

USDA Hardiness Zone

5