Creeping Thyme Growing Guide – Everything You Need To Know

Few plants provide the ease of maintenance, beautiful coverage, and bright spring blooms, as Mother of thyme. Also known as creeping thyme, this herbaceous plant has the ability to colonize over thyme, creating a dense, soft carpet of delicate, fuzzy foliage. Creeping thyme plants are readily available at most nurseries and can also be established from divisions. Selecting a thyme ground cover is perfect for poor soil areas and dry sites.

Quick Facts

• Botanical name: Thymus serpyllum
• Height: 1-3 inches ( 2.54-7.62 cm.)
• Spread: 3-12 inches ( 7.62- 30.48 cm.)
• Sun exposure: Full
• Soil requirements: Well draining, slightly gritty
• Hardiness zones: USDA 4-8
• When to plant: Spring, fall

Creeping Thyme Care

My current landscape is located in something of a desert. It's not an official desert, but the growing seasons here are harsh, dry, windy, and the soil is loose and sandy. These difficult conditions have had me scratching my head on plant choices, but thyme was a no-brainer. The first year I was here I made a river rock path and dotted it with tiny thyme plants. Today, it is a lush, green pathway and needs very little maintenance.

• Light: There are over 300 varieties of thyme from which to choose, but each one requires plenty of sunshine. Ideally, the site should provide 8 hours of sun for optimal growth and flower production. In lower light situations, the plant will get leggy, stretching for sunlight, and flower production will dwindle. This leads to a rather shaggy presentation.
• Water: Establishing creeping thyme ground cover will need regular watering as it roots. Once the plant has been growing for several months, it thrives on average moisture. However, well established areas can tolerate dry conditions, especially during the spring and fall months. In extreme summer heat, they will need supplemental irrigation for the best health.
• Temperature & Humidity: Creeping thyme is hardy to United States Department of Agriculture zones 4-8. In temperate regions, the plant will remain green, but it will go dormant in cold climes. Thyme is considered a warm weather crop and grows when temperatures are between 65-85 degrees Fahrenheit ( 18-30 C.). They can withstand temperatures much hotter but growth will slow and some stem and leaf loss may occur. Temperatures below 0 F ( -18 C.) will not kill the plant but it will go into dormancy. Thyme plants require relatively low humidity and actually prefer dry ambient air.
• Soil: Thyme plants do not like dense, heavy soils. These can become waterlogged leading to root rot. They do tolerate soil with poor fertility but it must be freely draining. Loose, sandy, gritty, or even rocky soils with some acidity are preferred. In areas with organic rich soil, amend the site with plenty of gritty material prior to planting thyme.
• Fertilizer: These herbs don’t require fertilizer. If the area is devoid of any nutrients, apply a diluted foliar feed once in early spring.
• Problems, Pests & Diseases: The biggest problems are lack of light and poorly drained soil. Few pests bother these aromatic plants. Watch for scale in hot, dry summers. In heavy, water saturated sites, root rot is a common problem.

How and When to Plant Creeping Thyme

The best time to establish a creeping thyme ground cover is in early spring, as soon as the soil can be worked. Prepare the area by adding extra gritty material if necessary and loosening the soil a few inches (7.62 cm.). Water in young plants to settle soil around the shallow roots. Thyme may also be planted in fall, 5 weeks before any expected frost.

Pruning

Mother of thyme doesn’t require pruning except to remove dead plant material. Some gardeners like to shear off the spent flowers to improve the appearance, although this isn’t necessary for the plant’s health.

Propagation

Thyme grows well from seed but will take some time to establish. Quicker results can be obtained from taking divisions from healthy plants. Dig up a section and sever it from the parent, taking care to preserve plenty of roots.

Repotting

When the plant becomes woody and develops areas that cease growth, it is time to divide and repot the plant. Remove it from the container and divide it into 2 or 3 sections. Fill the container with fresh, well draining, slightly gritty soil and install 1 or 2 divisions. Water in the soil to settle it and place the container where it will receive plenty of light.

Overwintering

Container bound plants may need to be taken to a sheltered location to overwinter. In ground plants need little special winter care if they are fully established. Make sure they get a good drink of water before a big freeze and then suspend watering for the winter.

Creeping Thyme Varieties

There is a variety of thyme for every need, but not all of them will “creep.” Most are deer resistant and thrive in harsh locations. There are 2 main species commonly used in the landscape. Thymus serpyllum, or wild thyme, and Thymus praecox, better known as wooly thyme, are widely available. Both are low-growing, slightly woody, evergreen plants with fine leaves. Wild thyme leaves are deeply green, while wooly thyme has fuzzy, grayish-green leaves.

Frequently Asked Questions