An evergreen with lightly haired foliage, this tiny-growing creeping thyme varietal — rarely over 3 inches or 7.6 cm. For the sake of experimenting, I planted two varieties of Creeping Thyme, the taller growing regular Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum) and Coccineus Thyme (Thymus praecox ‘Coccineus’). Tiny 2-lipped tubular flowers appear in summer and are attractive to bees. In early spring fill small pots with seed sowing compost and scatter a few seeds lightly over the surface. Sow seeds in containers, taking care to cover the seeds lightly with soil. Sign up for our newsletter. Plant cuttings or young thyme plants any time after the ground temperature reaches 70°F. Two varieties of Creeping Thyme filling the French drain . Harvest creeping thyme in the morning when the essential oils of the plant are at their peak. Plant them in spring, two to three weeks prior to the last frost. In outdoor gardens, it's frequently used in xeriscaping in hot, dry locations where other plants have trouble thriving. Plants that aren't growing don't need water, and creeping thyme also doesn't need fertilizer. Winterizing Creeping Thyme. 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Another creeping thyme fact is despite its enticing odor, growing creeping thyme ground cover is deer resistant, making it an ideal landscape candidate in areas frequented by them. Thyme can be grown from seeds, seedlings, and plant divisions. apart to allow for its spreading habitat. ), which makes it an exceptional planting choice anywhere that has frequent foot traffic. In cold climates, this little herb is deciduous, while in milder regions, the plant will retain its foliage year round. It enjoys hot summers and is hardy enough to survive through relatively cold winters. Most gardeners suggest buying young thyme seedlings, which you can obtain at any nursery, or take cuttings from someone else’s thyme. Prune back the vines in the early spring to prepare the plant for the growing season … apart to allow for its spreading habitat. Other common names creeping thyme 'Snowdrift' . Zones 5-9. Start seeds when growing creeping thyme indoors or they may be sown in the spring after the danger of frost has passed. Creeping thyme is a plant that typically does not enjoy high levels of humidity. Moisten the soil before transplanting plugs or planting seeds. 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. A few of the popular culinary herbs — English thyme, citriodorus — could go … Cover with a light layer of sieved compost and water gently. Provide each creeping thyme seedling with approximately 1 quart of water. Plant the seedlings in full sun, and when the ground is warm. To harvest creeping thyme ground cover, either remove the leaves from the stems or dry by snipping from the plant and hanging upside down in a dark, well aerated area. Buy thyme plant seedlings from a nursery. Let’s learn more about creeping thyme plant care. Thyme matures unevenly from plant to plant. Plant one creeping thyme seedling into each of the holes. Although this ground cover prefers well-drained lightly textured soils, it will grow quite well in less than desirable medium and thrive from sun to light shade environments. Thymus praecox is a low growing perennial hardy in USDA hardiness zones 4-9 with fairly minimal requirements. Creeping thyme is a low growing perennial herb from northern Europe. Plant creeping thyme 8 to 12 inches (20-30 cm.) 4. If you want to prune your thyme plant, make sure to do it in early spring at the first sight of new growth. This hardy plant tolerates some traffic and produces a light lemon aroma. This plant will eventually spread by rooting at the leaf nodes over a 12-18 inch area. Check out my. 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. Planting. Humidity. Plant different kinds of thyme — silver, creeping, wooly — for a variety of colors and flowering times. Creeping Thyme Planting, Care, and Propagation Tips It should get at least four hours of direct sun a day. Space young plants 12 to 24 inches apart, depending upon the specific variety. It’s a creeping ornamental variety with tiny leaves and petite lilac flowers. The best time to plant creeping thyme is in early spring, after the last frost. This is usually 2 to 3 weeks before the last spring frost in well-drained soil about 9 inches apart. Creeping Thyme are pretty little mat or carpet forming plants that are idea for use as a groundcover or to fill gaps between stepping stones and pavers. In fact, the pollen from the blooming thyme will flavor the resulting honey. Thyme can be brought at ready-grown plants, but is also easy to grow from seed. It is not the herb used in cooking although its leaves are aromatic. Scoop soil around the seedling until the hole is well filled. You’ll usually propagate cuttings during the summer months because this is the season of new growth for creeping thyme. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! Thyme is one of the European herbs that evolved in the rocky, sandy coastal climate of the Mediterranean Sea. To give the new growth room to expand, use small garden shears or scissors to trim off ⅓ of the oldest, woodiest parts of the plant. It has strongly scented flowers that are 4-6 mm long and produced in clusters. 3. The soil pH for growing creeping thyme plants should be neutral to slightly alkaline. They are also a nice underplanting for rose bushes and small trees such as Japanese maples and serve as a good soil cover in container gardens. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. Start seeds when growing creeping thyme indoors or they may be sown in the spring after the danger of frost has passed. Only grows to four inches across and slow-growing. It's hardy in USDA zones five through nine, and can even tolerate light frosts. The thymus genus is a large group, all of which are perennial plants in moderate climates. While cutting the ripening tops is one way to obtain seeds, use of cloths, sheets, or paper bags may prove more productive. Just like other thyme varieties, creeping thyme is edible with a flavor and aroma akin to mint when crushed or steeped for teas or tinctures. Plant thyme in free-draining soil or compost, and water in. Elfin creeping thyme plant (Thymus serpyllum) is a low growing (1-2 inches)(2.5-5 cm.) Remove a piece of the plant with budding growth on it. It is excellent planted as a lawn substitute or among stepping stones or pavers to create a living patio. Enter Creeping Thyme, the ideal plant for the location! Plant creeping thyme 8 to 12 inches (20-30 cm.) You have to plant the seedlings about 8 to 12 inches apart, in soil that drains well. Avoid trimming more than ⅓ of the plant… — will appear in low, dense mats, which sprawl randomly and quickly fill in areas as a ground cover. Place in a propagator to germinate. T. serpyllum is another creeping thyme variety. Instructions for growing creeping successfully from seed: 1. Creeping thyme, also known commonly as ‘Mother of Thyme,’ is an easily grown, spreading thyme variety. [1] X Research source The most popular v… During very cold winters, creeping thyme can suffer damage. Look no further than Thymus Serpyllum seeds to grow a wonderfully hardy ground cover directly in the garden or border! Then water only when the seedlings feel dry to the touch, to a depth of about 1 1/2 inches. 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. It … Creeping thyme thrives in warm temperatures and is suitable for growing in USDA hardiness zones 4-9. Growing it from seeds is challenging because germination is often uneven and sluggish. This increased stem segment also provides a greater rooting zone for the thyme … Your email address will not be published. While some are upright plants with a shrub-like growth habit, the creeping types described here are low, with a vine-like growth habit. You wouldn’t usually mulch creeping thyme when you planted it. Once established, you won’t need to water your thyme plants. 2. Prune creeping thyme ground cover in the spring to maintain a compact appearance and again after the small white flowers are spent if additional shaping is preferred. Just 8 inches tall, Creeping Thyme ground cover plants are completely covered in 1/4 inch bells of carmine-pink for months on end. Young thyme plants are widely available to buy in garden centres and nurseries, so it’s best to plant these, instead. It does well in most balanced soil conditions. Gardeners should plant their creeping thyme at least 8 to 12-inches apart to accommodate the spreading of the plant. Globe Ice Plant (Ruschia punctulata) Globe Ice Plant is cold tolerant and is best for cooler areas. To plant red creeping thyme, dig a hole for each plant. Mist the surface of the soil in the planting packs using a sprayer bottle until the mix is moist to the touch. Creeping Thyme (Thymus Serpyllum) - Would you like a perennial ground cover plant that is an evergreen and very little maintenance? Creeping thyme usually stops growing during the winter, though in mild winters it remains green. When growing thyme indoors, the biggest challenge you'll face is … The plants should grow 6 to 12 inches in height. tall herbaceous perennial sub shrub with a dense mounding habit. 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. Make sure the soil is loose and free of weeds before you plant. The ground should now be warm, more precisely it should have about 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Germination will take place between 14-21 days. Brilliant sunshine is great for established plants, but young ones don't like it much. Check your local listings for details on frost dates in your area. 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Creeping thyme ground cover can be propagated via stem cuttings or divisions and, of course, can be purchased from the local nursery as either established plantings or seeds. The soil should be kept between at 64-75 degrees Fahrenheit. Cuttings from the creeping thyme plant should be taken in the early summer. Genus Thymus are evergreen woody-based perennials, shrub or sub-shrubs with small aromatic leaves and terminal whorls of small, 2-lipped, tubular, purple, pink or white flowers in late spring or summer Flowering creeping thyme is very attractive to bees and is a nice addition to a garden focused on honeybees. Dip the cutting in rooting hormone and plant it in a pot with well-draining soil. Plant creeping thyme indoors about 6 weeks before the last spring frost date in your region. How to Plant Thyme . Sitemap, Looking for bird and nature wall prints & greeting cards? Thyme can be grown from seeds, plant divisions, or seedlings. 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