Fragrant and colorful creeping thyme is a low-maintenance groundcover, and its even edible.
In addition to tons of ornamental appeal, most creeping thyme varieties are highly fragrant and edible.
Creeping thyme is commonly grown as a groundcover and can beplanted on hillsidesto help control erosion.
Credit: Matthew Benson
Whats more, creeping thyme plants are deer-resistant, but pollinators love them.
Creeping Thyme Care Tips
Creeping thyme is a low-maintenance plant that doesnt require much fuss.
Established creeping thyme plants can handle a good deal of foot traffic when planted as a groundcover.
However, the plants are more sensitive to wear and tear when the weather is dry.
If youve ever grown culinary thyme or other Mediterranean herbs, youll likely have success with creeping thyme.
Creeping thyme plants can also grow in part shade, but they wont bloom as prolifically.
Soil and Water
Creeping thyme tolerates a range of soils and can even grow in nutrient-poor earth.
However, these plants grow best in well-draining soil with apH of 6.5 to 7.5.
As with other Mediterranean herbs, creeping thyme doesnt like wet feet and can be sensitive to overwatering.
However, these plants must be watered regularly, especially in hot weather.
Temperature and Humidity
Most varieties of creeping thyme are cold-hardy.
Fertilizer
Creeping thyme is a light feeder.
It usually doesnt need extra fertilizer if youamend the soil with compostprior to planting.
For best results, lightly cut back creeping thyme plants in spring and again after the flowers fade.
In addition to using a container with drainage holes,add perliteto good-quality potting soil.
Plant the removed sections elsewhere or give them to friends.
you could prevent this by pruning the plants at least once a year.
These plants also become dry if they dont receive enough water or if winters are particularly harsh.
Keeping creeping thyme in soggy soil is a recipe for disaster.
Avoid this by keeping the thyme plants inwell-draining soiland watering them only when the soil starts to feel dry.
Propagating Creeping Thyme
The easiest way to propagate creeping thyme is throughplant division.
Established plants spread and produce roots wherever they touch the ground.
Use a sharp equipment to cut sections in summer or early fall.
Another way to propagate creeping thyme is throughstem cuttings.
In late summer, use sharp pruners to cut 2-inch sections of semi-ripe stems from a plant.
Keep the planting medium moist; the stem should develop roots in about two weeks.
Dont cover the seeds with soil.
The plants are hardy in Zones 49 and have similar growing needs.
This ground-hugging plant rarely grows over 3 inches high and can quickly spread over 12 inches wide.
A relatively rare key in of creeping thyme, white flowering creeping thyme blooms throughout summer.
Plants can stretch up to 5 inches tall when mature.
However, established plants can spread quickly and stretch 12 to 18 inches wide by their third year.
