How to Grow Creeping Thyme

Creeping thyme (Thymus praecox 'Albiflorus') is a low growing herbaceous perennial ground cover with an attractive fragrance that is a joy to the home garden. Small evergreen leaves are dark green in color and tiny rose-purple flowers appear in late spring. Follow these easy steps for an aromatic addition to your landscape.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Creeping thyme
• Garden trowel
• Water
• Mulch or other organic material

1. Select a planting location. Creeping thyme performs best in full sun but will tolerate partial shade. Well-drained soil is important.
2. Dig the planting holes. Creeping thyme is generally available as plugs in plastic flats. Hole depth and width is determined by the size of the plug. If planting as a ground cover in a large area, space the thyme evenly in either a triangular or square pattern.
3. Remove plant from container. Place in the prepared hole at the same depth at which the groundcover was growing in the container. Making sure that the plant is straight, backfill the original soil and place a small mound of dirt around the plant. Water the transplants well.
4. Spread a thin layer of mulch around the planting site. If creeping thyme is being used in a rock garden or between steppers, mulching is not necessary. It is very draught resistant and spreads rapidly.

Tips & Warnings

• Creeping thyme may be planted as a ground cover, on stone walls, in rock gardens or between stepper stones in a pathway. It is a mat forming plant that reaches only 1/2 to 1 inch in height, but spreads an impressive 18 inches. It is also a nice addition to herb gardens.
• Creeping thyme is hardy in zones 5 through 7. Check the USDA Hardiness Zone map for suitability to your area.
• Well-drained soil is important for successfully growing creeping thyme. The plant can suffer from root rot or fungal diseases if soil remains too wet.

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