They demand well-drained soil and will rot over winter if the ground is too wet. Thyme is easy to divide. Avoid tall and gangly plants. Creeping thyme is one of the many types of thyme available, which is a herb commonly cultivated for culinary use. The growing habits of this creeping herb are different from one variety to another. It’s a creeping ornamental variety with tiny leaves and petite lilac flowers. Though creeping thyme is edible, it is not usually grown for this use, and instead is considered to be an ornamental plant that works well as ground cover. Plant thyme in well-drained soil. This can result in root rot. Therefore, a plant like this Creeping Pink Thyme with almost an inch of stem between its sets of leaves grows much more quickly than say a Pink Chintz Thyme or a Woolly Thyme whose leaves are very close together. Creeping Thyme is low- growing and spreading with spikes of lavender bloom clusters. Enter Creeping Thyme, the ideal plant for the location! Plant creeping thyme 6 to 12 inches apart to allow for its spreading habitat. How to Plant Thyme . Space young plants 12 to 24 inches apart, depending upon the specific variety. Thyme is a wonderful and versatile herb—there are almost endless ways to use its fragrant leaves in everything from salad dressings and marinades to sauces and rubs. Creeping thyme heights vary from 1 to 4 inches with spreads up to 24 inches or more. A woody creeping perennial, the elfin thyme plant (Thymus serpyllum) is an aromatic shrub that grows close to the ground and covers the area like a fragrant and thick cushion. Article by Everything Backyard. Creeping thyme is usually grown as an ornamental plant, cascading over rocky surfaces or creeping along pathways. … Whether you want to create a herb garden, a flower border, or a dense ground cover, lemon thyme does well! Usually, a thyme plant is grown from a division. Thyme Varieties and Common Names. Creeping Thyme (Thymus Serpyllum Magic Carpet) - If you have a stepping stone path or a flagstone patio, growing Magic Carpet seeds is a great way to add lovely, low-growing thyme to the walkway and patio crevices. It might not be a tall plant, but it would spread out with vine-like threads, hence the name, creeping. Plant thyme in spring once chances of frost have passed. Low light will make your plant grow leggy stems that won’t look or taste right. Before planting in-ground, improve your existing soil by mixing in several inches of aged compost or other rich organic matter. So it is required to keep a lot of space between them. Plant lemon thyme in the ground for unrestricted growth. Don’t buy transplants with brown leaves or dry spots. There are several options, and luckily, thyme is a really easy going plant and will thrive no matter what, as long as you follow these tips. Most of the small creeping thyme varieties will fill in a 30 cm square (one square foot) area in about three seasons, depending on your climate. To plant thyme from seed, be patient. Provide each creeping thyme seedling with approximately 1 quart of water. apart can be pricey, but then again, if you have looked into reseeding or of laying sod for an entire turf lawn, the cost is fairly comparable. When you’re growing an herb garden indoors thyme will need as much bright, direct light as you can give it. This is usually 2 to 3 weeks before the last spring frost in well-drained soil about 9 inches apart. Creeping thyme is a perfect plant to grow if you want something that doubles as a delicious ingredient. If your soil does not appear to drain well, add some compost, sand, or organic material to help improve drainage. Perfect for filling between stepping stones, as it will tolerate light foot traffic and has a wonderful fragrance when leaves are crushed. Creeping Thyme (Thymus Serpyllum Mother of Thyme) - Edge the borders of your herb, flower or vegetable garden with Mother of Thyme seed.It is low-growing and spreading, with spikes of lavender bloom clusters. Thyme grows best when placed in full sun with well-drained soil with a pH of 7. Meadow Garden Lawn And Garden Garden Path Garden Tips Shade Garden Herb Garden Vegetable Garden Red Creeping Thyme Thyme Flower. Thymus vulgaris – Common garden thyme. ), lavender (Lavandula spp.) Your lemon thyme plants can also thrive in a rock garden—even with little to no soil. Thymus vulgaris prefers well-drained and dry soils. Plant. The creeping lemon thyme that my friend was growing, sported the same pink flowers as creeping caraway thyme and creeping spicy orange thyme. In spring, creeping thyme can grow quickly, and you don’t have to face problems and get benefits from it. Thymus citriodorus – Lemon thyme. The ground or a garden bed is an ideal place for lemon thyme if you don't plan to transfer it. Then water only when the seedlings feel dry to the touch, to a depth of about 1 1/2 inches. It can tolerate periods of drought. If your soil is too heavy or you have a small garden, grow thyme in pots – they will thrive in 15cm (6in) pots filled with a gritty potting medium, ideally soil. Here's everything you need to know about growing it! Thymus serpyllum coccineus -Red creeping thyme T. serpyllum Albus – White creeping thyme You can estimate how many plugs to plant by figuring out the approximate area (width x length) to come up with the number you'll need. Originally from the Mediterranean, thyme thrives in well-drained soil that’s low in nutrients. Thyme is one of the European herbs that evolved in the rocky, sandy coastal climate of the Mediterranean Sea. Creeping thyme ground cover is only 2 - 4 inches high, and it spreads and flowers for most of the summer. Water: When it comes to watering creeping thyme, keep its potting soil constantly moist but never soggy. To plant thyme from transplant, choose sturdy well-branched plants with growth spilling over the pot. Some flower very little; others burst into profusions of red, rose, lavender or white. Zones 5-9. Adds elegance to mixed b Like most herbs, thyme needs bright light to flourish. While cutting the ripening tops is one way to obtain seeds, use of cloths, sheets, or paper bags may prove more productive. Space creeping thyme plants about 9 inches apart, or according to the variety's final growing width. How to Grow Thyme plant Soil and Location. Two varieties of Creeping Thyme filling the French drain . Avoid planting in heavy, wet soils. Originally native to southern Europe, thyme can be grown successfully indoors or outdoors in a variety of areas, needing only basic attention in order to thrive. Only grows to four inches across and slow-growing. What makes thyme such a great plant is that it doesn’t demand much, especially once it is established. Plant creeping thyme in front of taller growing Mediterranean herbs that share similar growing requirements, such as rosemary (Rosmarinus spp. or sage (Salvia officinalis). Varieties of Lemon Thyme. Thyme matures unevenly from plant to plant. 1.8k. Thyme seeds may take several weeks to germinate. Never plant this herb in soggy or heavy soil. Space thyme plants about one foot apart. There's more about growing thyme among patio blocks here. A few of the popular culinary herbs — English thyme, citriodorus — could go … Thymus vulgaris ‘Argenteus’ – Silver Thyme ‘Jekkas Thyme’ – Named after Jekka McVicar, early flowering and great tasting. Firstly, you can fertilize by adding organic material to the soil of the garden, do not require too much soil amendment. The plant is right at home in containers and is a natural choice as a ground cover or a border plant for garden beds and walking paths. This increased stem segment also provides a greater rooting zone for the thyme … The creeping thyme can grow from one set of leaves. Keep in mind that thyme has a few windows of opportunity for planting and transplanting - the ideal time is in June or earlier, when the ground is warm but there's some rain in the forecast, with dull days. Foliage colors range from silvery gray to dark green. Around noon and again in late afternoon, gently shake the plants to encourage the ripe seeds to fall onto the sheets or into the bags. With tiny round leaves that come in gray-green shades, the elfin thyme puts on a show … All creeping thymes spread by sending stems along the ground's surface to periodically grow leaves and roots. Scoop soil around the seedling until the hole is well filled. Mother of thyme will bloom all summer long, and the foliage is an evergreen in most locations. Thymus serpyllum tolerates moderate foot traffic. Plant one creeping thyme seedling into each of the holes. Essentially drought-loving, thyme needs protection from cold winds and wet winters. Creeping thyme is a low subshrub growing to 2 cm tall with creeping stems up to 10 cm long, with oval evergreen leaves 3-8 mm long. The downside of planting thyme as lawn replacement is the cost. Scientific Name: Thymus serpyllum Plant Type: Perennial subshrub Light: Creeping thyme prefers full sun, but it can stand part sun. In the spring or fall, find a mature thyme plant. This hardy plant tolerates some traffic and produces a light lemon aroma. Should plant the creeping thyme in the spring- The best season of planting creeping thyme is spring. It has strongly scented flowers that are 4-6 mm long and produced in clusters. Planting a creeping thyme lawn with plants set 6-12 inches (15-30 cm.) Planting in early spring with pH soil between 6.0 and 8.0. Thyme prefers a sandy, dry soil. Space thyme plants 12 to 24 inches apart in a very sunny area with fertile, well-drained soil with a pH close to 7.0. Mother of Thyme blooms all summer long, and the foliage is … Thymus serpyllum 'Pink Chintz' (Thyme 'Pink Chintz')Thyme 'Pink Chintz' reaches a height of 5 cm and with its small green leaves and a profusion of pale pink flowers, this vigorous mat-forming creeping thyme is an excellent ground cover plant. Creeping Thyme is a great addition to your garden, on the borders of your herb, flower or vegetable garden! Plant cuttings or young thyme plants any time after the ground temperature reaches 70°F. This creeping perennial herb makes a beautiful ground cover with deep, lavender-red blooms. Planting it in full sun brings the essential oils to the surface of the leaves and gives it great flavour. 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