Creeping Thymes
Creeping thymes are generally either mound-forming or mat-forming into a carpet of evergreen foliage. They are popular for use between pavers and as groundcovers to replace traditional grass lawns. We generally prefer upright thymes for culinary use but T. herba-barona has been used extensively throughout history and all of them are technically edible. Dense clusters of flowers bloom in early summer and attract bees and butterflies to the garden. All of the cultivars and species we offer are fully hardy in even the severest of Oregon winters.
Note: Thymes are famously promiscuous and nomenclature is a bit of a mess so in most cases we've referred to the International Thymus Register and Checklist (2009) ,by Margaret Easter, who has studied the genus thoroughly.
Common name(s): Caborn wine & roses thyme
Description: a popular 2007 introduction of a seed selection by Margaret Easter of LW Plants in England. Mat-forming with dark green leaves and purple-pink flowers in summer that have a splash of crimson.
Height: to 4 in. Spread: to 18 in.
Description: Our own introduction, named for the valley we reside in, likely a cross between T. ‘Doone Valley’ and T. ‘Longwood.’ A flat creeper with a fresh lemon scent. Dark green foliage with bright gold flecked variegation from fall to spring.
Height: to 4 in. Spread: to 18 in.
Description: a 1997 introduction by Betty Ann Addison of Rice Creek Gardens, MN. Vigorous; forms a low mound of chartreuse foliage with a wonderful lime aroma. A great culinary option.
Height: to 10 in. Spread: to 3 ft.
Description: a popular 1972 introduction by Bill Archer of Reginald Kaye Ltd. and named for his home in Surrey, England. A strong lemon scent and bright gold variegation in fall and spring that fades to green in hot summer weather
Height: to 4 in. Spread: to 18 in.
Description: A 1997 introduction raised by David Baird of Fairie Gardens in Tumwater, WA. Forms a compact cushion of aromatic grey-green foliage with a strong lemon scent. Light pink flower clusters in summer, especially drought tolerant.
Height: to 6 in. Spread: to 18 in.
Common name(s): woolly thyme
Description: densely woolly gray-green foliage with sparse or no pink flowers in summer. Especially drought tolerant and is favorable for use as a lawn replacement due to its lack of flowers.
Height: to 4 in. Spread: to 1 ft.
Description: a 1997 introduction by Bluebird Nursery Inc. of Clarkson, NE named for its place of origin in the Caucasus Mountains. Mat-forming with dark green leaves and rose-purple flowers.
Height: to 4 in. Spread: to 18 in.
Description: Our own 1993 introduction of a cross between T. 'Doone Valley' and T. serpyllum 'White Moss'. Mat-forming with carpets of white flowers and a strong lemon scent.
Height: to 4 in. Spread: to 18 in.
Description: our own 1998 introduction of a chance seedling in our garden of unknown parentage. Forms a perfect cushion of long, narrow foliage with a sweet lemon scent. Blooms light pink flowers in summer.
Height: to 6 in. Spread: to 18 in.
Description: a cultivar of unknown origin from before 1982. Mat-forming with dark green linear leaves. Lilac flowers in summer.
Height: to 4 in. Spread: to 18 in.
Description: allegedly a seedling of T. 'Elfin'. Mat-forming with a very compact growth habit and dark crimson flowers in summer.
Height: to 4 in. Spread: to 1 ft.
Description: A mound-forming thyme with narrow, bright green foliage that is somewhat pine-scented. Blooms pink flowers in summer.
Height: to 4 in. Spread: to 1 ft.
Description: a mat-forming species from Corsica and Sardinia with dark green foliage and a very strong caraway scent. Blooms pale mauve flowers in summer.
Height: to 4 in. Spread: to 1 ft.
Thymus quinquecostatus f. albus
Description: native to Mongolia, Japan and Korea; mat-forming with round, pale-green foliage and white flowers in summer.
Height: to 4 in. Spread: to 1 ft.
Thymus serpyllum Coccineus Group
Common name(s): creeping red thyme
Description: mat-forming with small, dark green leaves and dark crimson flowers with darker crimson centers in summer.
Height: to 4 in. Spread: to 3 ft.
Description: a 1924 introduction by Clarence Elliot of Six Hills Nursery in Stevenage, England. Mat-forming with very compact foliage that overlaps but is relatively slow-growing. Blooms mauve flowers splashed with purple in summer.
Height: to 4 in. Spread: to 1 ft.
Thymus serpyllum 'Pink Chintz'
Description: a very popular 1939 introduction by T. Hilling & Co. of Surrey, England. Mat-forming with narrow foliage and blush pink flowers in summer.
Height: to 4 in. Spread: to 1 ft.
Description: a mat-forming cultivar of unknown origin with pale green foliage. Blooms sparse, white flowers in summer that result in a "mossy" carpet of green and white.
Height: to 4 in. Spread: to 1 ft.
Description: a vigorous mat-forming species from the Balkan Peninsula. Blooms purple-pink flowers in summer.
Height: 4 in. Spread: to 1 ft.