Thymus praecox
A candy scent of earthy, herby goodness wafts by the air, welcoming you into the backyard. One step ahead leads you onto a low-growing mat of spicy, lilac-flowering thyme.
Don’t have any worry, Thymus praecox, aka creeping thyme, can deal with slightly foot site visitors, releasing its candy fragrance in return, making it a superb selection for planting in a walkway or between stepping stones!
An distinctive, pollinator-friendly floor cowl, T. praecox works properly to attach totally different areas in a backyard, as a border plant, in between stone paths, in a rock wall, or as a garden substitute.
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Floor covers present a myriad of makes use of and advantages within the backyard. They operate as a dwelling mulch by shading the soil, suppressing weeds, and conserving water. All of this helps to construct topsoil and stop erosion.
With so many choices to select from, it’s straightforward to really feel overwhelmed when choosing a floor cowl. Cue creeping thyme!
Drought tolerant, evergreen, low-maintenance, and aromatic, with vibrant pink-purple flowers – what’s to not love?
This floor cowl is certain to place a smile in your face regardless of the season. Learn on to learn to greatest incorporate it into your backyard.
Rising to about two to 3 inches tall and spreading to greater than a foot throughout, creeping thyme tends to develop in a dense, mat-like kind.
Small, fuzzy gray-green leaves are fragrant and launch their perfume when delicately crushed.
Come summertime, lavender-pink blooms appeal to butterflies, bees, and different pleasant pollinators.
Fast Look
Widespread identify(s): Creeping thyme, mom of thyme
Plant sort: Perennial woody shrub
Hardiness (USDA Zone): 5a-8b
Native to: Southern, western, and central Europe
Season: Summer time
Publicity: Full solar
Soil sort: Dry, sandy, rocky, properly draining
Soil pH: 6.0-8.0, barely acidic to alkaline
Spacing: Skinny to 1 inch (seeds), 8-12 inches (transplants)
Planting depth: 1/16 inch (seeds), depth of container (transplants)
Mature measurement: 4-12 inches x 2-6 inches excessive
Water Wants: Low to Average
Taxonomy
Order: Lamiales
Household: Lamiaceae
Genus: Thymus
Species: Praecox
Cultivars: Albiflorus, Coccineus, Minus
Often known as mom of thyme, T. praecox is certainly one of about 350 species within the Thymus genus — all fragrant herbaceous perennials native to the temperate Mediterranean local weather present in elements of Europe, North Africa, and Asia.
Since antiquity, numerous species have been harnessed for his or her culinary and medicinal properties.
The identify thyme is derived from the Greek phrase “thumos,” which means smoke. This reference is almost certainly related to the sacred observe of burning the herb as incense.
It was additionally utilized by the traditional Egyptians for embalming, and by historic Roman troopers to invigorate braveness.
The important oil, derived largely from widespread thyme, T. vulgaris, is utilized in modern-day soapmaking, beauty and dental hygiene merchandise, sweet, and chewing gum.
Creeping thyme, to not be confused with its extra culinarily-inclined cousin, T. vulgaris, is edible as properly, providing a lightweight natural possibility for use within the kitchen.
You’ll be able to study develop widespread thyme in our information.
Most notably within the backyard, creeping thyme’s biggest operate is to work as an fragrant, pollinator-attracting floor cowl.
These are glorious companion crops for vegetable gardeners to make the most of, they usually can serve to easy out any harsh corners in hardscaping.
Propagation
A low-maintenance plant as soon as established, T. praecox does require slightly TLC to get began.
You’ll be able to elect to sow seeds or plant begins; each choices will result in lush, inexperienced development in no thyme (ha!).
From Seed
Sow seeds both indoors, in a greenhouse, or immediately outside after the hazard of frost has handed. Seeds usually germinate inside seven to 21 days at 65 to 70°F.
For rising indoors, sow seeds in natural potting soil, both in trays or two-inch containers.
Right here’s sow:
- Sprinkle seeds on high of the soil or coated calmly to a depth of 1/16 of an inch at most, and preserve constant moisture for germination.
- Skinny to 2 to 3 seedlings per container. After the seedlings have established roots and grown to an inch or two in peak, they might then be moved exterior.
- You’ll be able to acclimate the crops by shifting them exterior through the day and retaining them inside at evening, growing the period of time they spend outside by about an hour or so every day.
Hardening them off on this method permits the seedlings to get used to their new setting and reduces the danger of shock when they’re planted exterior.
For out of doors seed sowing:
- First put together the planting space. Take away weeds and rake out any thick clumps of soil.
- Scatter the seeds throughout the designated web site and press them firmly into the soil, or plant two to 3 seeds 12 to 18 inches aside in staggered rows. Plant seeds no deeper than 1/16 of an inch.
- Make sure that to provide them a superb watering after broadcasting seeds so that they don’t get whisked away by the wind, or a curious critter.
A very powerful (and most difficult) factor to recollect with direct seeding is maintain the planting space persistently moist.
Preserve common watering after sprouts begin taking pictures up and incrementally ease up on watering because the crops mature.
From Seedlings or Transplanting
Alternatively, you possibly can plant nursery begins as a substitute of seeds.
Plant begins or transplant your seedlings within the spring, ensuring the roots are buried completely within the floor and the soil floor reaches the bottom of the plant.
Area crops about eight to 12 inches aside, giving them ample room to unfold to their full measurement.
Give crops deep, common watering two to 3 instances per week for the primary couple of months to assist roots turn into established, then slowly lower the frequency of their watering schedule as they mature.
When a 12 months has passed by since planting time, try to be watering simply a couple of times a month, relying on rainfall.
By Division
Make divisions in both spring or fall for a easy re-establishment.
Some say that the hotter climate and longer days of spring assist the crops rapidly achieve new development, whereas fall permits the crops to hunker down and make investments extra vitality of their roots. Each timeframes appear to result in success.
To divide:
- Choose a wholesome plant and dig up the entire root ball, gently shaking out as a lot soil as attainable.
- Break it into three or 4 sections, every with ample roots and foliage to develop independently from each other.
- Place every new plant again into the bottom or in particular person containers and provides them an intensive watering.
Water these divisions as you’ll new transplants, two to 3 instances per week, slowly easing up as they turn into extra established.
Study extra in regards to the strategies of propagating thyme right here.
Tips on how to Develop
Creeping thyme is the kind of plant that makes you seem like a gardening genius with minimal effort. Give it the correct situations, and it’ll unfold out in a aromatic, lush mat of foliage and flowers that provides texture, coloration, and even a little bit of culinary potential to your panorama.
It’s powerful, tolerant, and a improbable possibility for filling in these areas the place grass struggles otherwise you simply need one thing slightly extra fascinating underfoot.
Now, let’s go over the precise cultural necessities:
Mild
Thyme craves daylight. It thrives in full solar and received’t carry out properly in shade. Purpose for at the very least six hours of direct daylight every day, although eight or extra is even higher.
When you’re rising it in a spot that receives a little bit of afternoon shade, that’s superb, however keep away from deeply shaded areas.
Extra solar means extra vigorous development, higher flowering, and enhanced important oil content material, which suggests extra perfume and taste.
Soil
The roots of creeping thyme want good drainage above all else. This plant developed to develop in rocky, lean soils, so keep away from wealthy, water-retentive media.
It prefers sandy or gritty soil with a impartial to barely alkaline pH, round 6.0 to eight.0.In case your soil is heavy or clay-like, amend it with coarse sand, gravel, and even small pebbles to enhance drainage. Raised beds and rock gardens are glorious choices.
Watch out with including sand in clay soils. Clay and sand can turn into arduous as concrete when its dry.
Temperature and Humidity
This hardy perennial thrives in USDA Zones 4 to 9 and is surprisingly resilient to a variety of temperature extremes as soon as established.
Creeping thyme can deal with warmth and drought with ease, and whereas it tolerates some humidity, it does greatest in dry climates.
Moist situations, particularly mixed with poor air circulation, can result in rot or fungal illness. When you’re gardening in a extra humid zone, area crops properly to make sure air motion.
Water
Newly planted creeping thyme will want common moisture till it’s established—in regards to the first month or so.
After that, it prefers to be saved on the dry aspect. Water solely when the highest inch of soil is totally dry.
Established crops are drought tolerant and overwatering may cause root rot. When you’re uncertain whether or not to water, wait one other day.
Fertilizer
Much less is extra. Creeping thyme will not be a heavy feeder, and wealthy soils can truly scale back its aroma and taste. Normally, there’s no have to fertilize in any respect.
In case your soil is especially depleted, you possibly can apply a diluted, balanced liquid fertilizer in early spring, however don’t make it an everyday behavior.
Container Rising
Creeping thyme is an ideal candidate for container gardening. Select a pot with glorious drainage and fill it with a gritty, well-draining combine—one thing like cactus or succulent potting soil works superbly.
Containers needs to be positioned in full solar and allowed to dry out between waterings. Thyme in pots generally is a bit extra delicate to overwatering, so remember to tip out any extra from the saucer after watering.
Remember that container-grown thyme might not overwinter properly outside in colder climates, so plan to maneuver it to a protected location or deal with it as an annual.
Overwintering
Creeping thyme is hardy in USDA Zones 5a-8b and normally doesn’t want a lot winter care.
In colder zones, apply a lightweight mulch like straw or pine needles after the primary arduous frost to insulate the roots, and take away it in early spring. Skip fall pruning—wait till spring to trim winter injury.
For container-grown thyme, transfer pots to a sheltered spot like an unheated storage or bury the container and mulch. Water sparingly by winter, simply sufficient to maintain the soil from drying out utterly.
Cultivars to Choose
Whereas the uncultivated species plant has small clusters of tubular, lilac-colored flowers, there are just a few cultivars that provide totally different blossom colours and plant varieties.
Albiflorus
‘Albiflorus’ options snow-white flowers and brilliant inexperienced, fragrant foliage that spreads rapidly to kind a dense mat.
With a mature peak of simply two to 3 inches and a diffusion of 1 to 2 toes, it’s best for planting in between paving stones or in rock gardens.
Coccineus
‘Coccineus’ boasts an abundance of vibrant ruby pink flower clusters.
‘Coccineus’
Vegetation develop to a mature peak of only one to 2 inches tall and a diffusion of 12 to 18 inches. Its gentle inexperienced foliage turns a sexy bronze coloration in fall.
You will discover crops obtainable for buy in quart-size containers at Nature Hills Nursery.
Minus
‘Minus’ has the tiniest of all of the thyme leaves, with small clusters of lilac-pink flowers. The miniature leaves make it look nearly like moss, forming a dense floor cowl.
This cultivar doesn’t bloom as prolifically as most different cultivars, nevertheless it varieties dense mats of inexperienced. Count on a mature peak of 1 to 2 inches with a diffusion of as much as 16 inches.
Upkeep
As soon as established, T. praecox is a reasonably hands-off backyard guardian. Some occasional water right here or there may be all these crops actually need – although not an excessive amount of, as they’ll simply turn into oversaturated.
Once more, fertilization will not be beneficial, as T. praecox thrives in lean soil.
This plant will unfold rapidly inside the first couple of years. Three to 4 years down the street, the unique father or mother a part of the plant will develop skinny and needs to be divided as described above to encourage wholesome, new development.
Take into account, denser plantings present a extra fast lush look, however over time the crops will wrestle to achieve for the solar, leading to much less wholesome, leggier development.
Keep away from this by scaling down or transplanting divisions to different elements of your backyard, so that every plant has ample area to develop.
Pests and Illness
If planted in an space with poor drainage or a piece of the backyard that’s overwatered, T. praecox could also be inclined to root rot.
The simplest strategy to keep away from such a destiny is to make sure that the designated planting space is pretty fast-draining and saved fairly dry.
Slugs could also be a problem, however these can simply be handled with weekly purposes of food-grade diatomaceous earth.
Apart from that, there aren’t any critical insect or illness downside to talk of! A gardener’s dream.
Finest Makes use of
The dense, creeping nature of this species makes it a superb floor cowl and dwelling mulch. As such, T. praecox helps to suppress weeds, preserve soil moisture, and stop erosion.
In a backyard setting, this species seems to be greatest planted in a walkway, in between stepping stones or pavers, as creeping thyme is tolerant of reasonable foot site visitors and releases a nice aroma when its leaves are calmly crushed.
It additionally works properly in rock partitions or as a dainty border planting. Since every plant spreads to only over a foot broad, it’s greatest to plant en masse for a full-flowering, aromatic impact!
Lastly, as I discussed beforehand, although this isn’t the normal culinary selection (T. vulgaris), the leaves of T. praecox are nonetheless edible and can present a tasty taste to any stew, sauce, or salad.
Welcome to the Backyard
Creeping thyme makes for a pleasant and delicate addition to any full solar backyard.
With small fragrant silvery-green leaves and vibrant lavender-pink or white flower clusters, this festive floor cowl may creep proper out of the nursery and into your coronary heart!
You probably have expertise rising creeping thyme in your backyard or have any questions, drop a remark beneath — we’d love to listen to your suggestions!
And for extra data on rising different floor covers, try these articles subsequent: