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. Creeping thyme is a low growing perennial herb from northern Europe. Just 8 inches tall, Creeping Thyme ground cover plants are completely covered in 1/4 inch bells of carmine-pink for months on end. 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 To plant red creeping thyme, dig a hole for each plant. Sow seeds in containers, taking care to cover the seeds lightly with soil. The plants should grow 6 to 12 inches in height. The ground should now be warm, more precisely it should have about 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Scoop soil around the seedling until the hole is well filled. 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! Sign up for our newsletter. Plant them in spring, two to three weeks prior to the last frost. Thyme can be grown from seeds, plant divisions, or seedlings. 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. Brilliant sunshine is great for established plants, but young ones don't like it much. Creeping thyme, also known commonly as ‘Mother of Thyme,’ is an easily grown, spreading thyme variety. Germination will take place between 14-21 days. Humidity. 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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. Family Lamiaceae . Allow a distance of 8 to 12 inches between each plant, as crowding causes poor air circulation that may lead to disease. In outdoor gardens, it's frequently used in xeriscaping in hot, dry locations where other plants have trouble thriving. It … Creeping thyme usually stops growing during the winter, though in mild winters it remains green. Moisten the soil before transplanting plugs or planting seeds. Remove a piece of the plant with budding growth on it. 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. ), which makes it an exceptional planting choice anywhere that has frequent foot traffic. 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Creeping thyme is also capable of withstanding tromping upon by rambunctious kids (making it kid resistant as well! It has strongly scented flowers that are 4-6 mm long and produced in clusters. This is usually 2 to 3 weeks before the last spring frost in well-drained soil about 9 inches apart. Creeping thyme is a plant that typically does not enjoy high levels of humidity. Gardeners should plant their creeping thyme at least 8 to 12-inches apart to accommodate the spreading of the plant. When growing thyme indoors, the biggest challenge you'll face is … While you can plant thyme at any point during the growing season, spring and fall are best. This plant will eventually spread by rooting at the leaf nodes over a 12-18 inch area. Creeping thyme thrives in warm temperatures and is suitable for growing in USDA hardiness zones 4-9. The soil pH for growing creeping thyme plants should be neutral to slightly alkaline. 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. Elfin creeping thyme plant (Thymus serpyllum) is a low growing (1-2 inches)(2.5-5 cm.) It’s a creeping ornamental variety with tiny leaves and petite lilac flowers. 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. In fact, the pollen from the blooming thyme will flavor the resulting honey. The soil should be kept between at 64-75 degrees Fahrenheit. 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. tall herbaceous perennial sub shrub with a dense mounding habit. It enjoys hot summers and is hardy enough to survive through relatively cold winters. Creeping Thyme Planting, Care, and Propagation Tips It should get at least four hours of direct sun a day. 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. Space young plants 12 to 24 inches apart, depending upon the specific variety. 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. Thyme can be brought at ready-grown plants, but is also easy to grow from seed. Globe Ice Plant (Ruschia punctulata) Globe Ice Plant is cold tolerant and is best for cooler areas. Provide each creeping thyme seedling with approximately 1 quart of water. Avoid trimming more than ⅓ of the plant… Prune back the vines in the early spring to prepare the plant for the growing season … 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. An evergreen with lightly haired foliage, this tiny-growing creeping thyme varietal — rarely over 3 inches or 7.6 cm. It's hardy in USDA zones five through nine, and can even tolerate light frosts. Flowering creeping thyme is very attractive to bees and is a nice addition to a garden focused on honeybees. T. serpyllum is another creeping thyme variety. Water the cutting until it has established roots. Plant creeping thyme 8 to 12 inches (20-30 cm.) Then water only when the seedlings feel dry to the touch, to a depth of about 1 1/2 inches. Buy thyme plant seedlings from a nursery. apart to allow for its spreading habitat. You wouldn’t usually mulch creeping thyme when you planted it. Check out my. Place in a propagator to germinate. If you want to prune your thyme plant, make sure to do it in early spring at the first sight of new growth. It is excellent planted as a lawn substitute or among stepping stones or pavers to create a living patio. Cover with a light layer of sieved compost and water gently. However, growing thyme from seeds can be difficult because their germination is often sluggish and uneven. This hardy plant tolerates some traffic and produces a light lemon aroma. In cold climates, this little herb is deciduous, while in milder regions, the plant will retain its foliage year round. You have to plant the seedlings about 8 to 12 inches apart, in soil that drains well. As mentioned, growing creeping thyme is a simple process due to its compatibility in a variety of soils and light exposures. Enter Creeping Thyme, the ideal plant for the location! — will appear in low, dense mats, which sprawl randomly and quickly fill in areas as a ground cover. Creeping Thyme (Thymus Serpyllum) - Would you like a perennial ground cover plant that is an evergreen and very little maintenance? A few of the popular culinary herbs — English thyme, citriodorus — could go … While some are upright plants with a shrub-like growth habit, the creeping types described here are low, with a vine-like growth habit. The thymus genus is a large group, all of which are perennial plants in moderate climates. How to Plant Thyme . 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. Check your local listings for details on frost dates in your area. While cutting the ripening tops is one way to obtain seeds, use of cloths, sheets, or paper bags may prove more productive. 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. It does well in most balanced soil conditions. Plant creeping thyme indoors about 6 weeks before the last spring frost date in your region. 2. Let’s learn more about creeping thyme plant care. This increased stem segment also provides a greater rooting zone for the thyme … Your email address will not be published. Plants that aren't growing don't need water, and creeping thyme also doesn't need fertilizer. Mist the surface of the soil in the planting packs using a sprayer bottle until the mix is moist to the touch. You’ll usually propagate cuttings during the summer months because this is the season of new growth for creeping thyme. Once established, you won’t need to water your thyme plants. apart to allow for its spreading habitat. Start seeds when growing creeping thyme indoors or they may be sown in the spring after the danger of frost has passed. The best time to plant creeping thyme is in early spring, after the last frost. Other common names creeping thyme 'Snowdrift' . Tiny 2-lipped tubular flowers appear in summer and are attractive to bees. Dip the cutting in rooting hormone and plant it in a pot with well-draining soil. Plant creeping thyme 8 to 12 inches (20-30 cm.) Winterizing Creeping Thyme. Thymus praecox is a low growing perennial hardy in USDA hardiness zones 4-9 with fairly minimal requirements. Plant different kinds of thyme — silver, creeping, wooly — for a variety of colors and flowering times. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! It is not the herb used in cooking although its leaves are aromatic. Instructions for growing creeping successfully from seed: 1. 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. Soil should be kept moist but not wet, as the growing creeping thyme plant is susceptible to root drowning and edema. [1] X Research source The most popular v… 3. Plant the seedlings in full sun, and when the ground is warm. Plant cuttings or young thyme plants any time after the ground temperature reaches 70°F. Zones 5-9. Thyme can be grown from seeds, seedlings, and plant divisions. Start seeds when growing creeping thyme indoors or they may be sown in the spring after the danger of frost has passed. Plant thyme in free-draining soil or compost, and water in. Thyme is one of the European herbs that evolved in the rocky, sandy coastal climate of the Mediterranean Sea. Sitemap, Looking for bird and nature wall prints & greeting cards? Thyme matures unevenly from plant to plant. 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’). In early spring fill small pots with seed sowing compost and scatter a few seeds lightly over the surface. Two varieties of Creeping Thyme filling the French drain . 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