#Organic elfin thyme plant Patch#
#Organic elfin thyme plant full#

Slower growing thymes are more appropriate for small spaces like those between flagstones. They will cover up stepping stones, spreading their stems onto paving searching for ground in which to root. It is also necessary to understand that all ground covers are not flat and lawn like.įaster growing thymes stuffed into a small space will disappoint with time. It is important to know the difference between a ground cover thyme that is appropriate for a two-inch space and one that is appropriate for a twenty foot space. But, different folks have different amounts of ground to cover and different expectations’ of what a ground cover is. Most folks want to use the Ground Cover Thymes to cover the ground. It is the Ground Cover Thymes that tend to confuse. There aren’t too many and their names are fairly descriptive, like Lemon Thyme and Orange Balsam Thyme. A blessing because there are so many different kinds and a curse because there are so many different kinds. It is being threatened by the fast growing Pink Lemonade Thyme which will probably take over both the Elfin Thyme and the Woolly Thyme in a year or so.

#Organic elfin thyme plant Patch#

If you look closely you can see a small patch of a slightly bluer thyme in between the two flowering ones.

#Organic elfin thyme plant full#

In the back, Pink Heretus Thyme is also in full bloom.

The taller flowering Caraway Thyme is in the foreground to the right of the Woolly Thyme. It flows into the silvery, non-flowering Woolly Thyme near the boundary board which separates this garden from the lawn. Pink Lemonade Thyme is the bright green thyme that has the shadow of the tree on it. These five ground cover thymes of varying colors, textures and heights are growing in a pleasing mosaic.

Once established, ground cover thymes also help to keep weed seeds from sprouting.

Cut when in full flower in July and August, and dry in the same manner as Common Thyme.Ground Cover Thymes are not only beautiful and soft to walk on, they are also the perfect way to keep the ground cool and conserve moisture.

Ideal soil temperature for germination: 15-21☌ (60-70☏).

Thin to 2 to 3 seedlings per container. Transplant out after all risk of frost has passed and soil begins to warm Sprinkle seeds on top of the soil or covered lightly to a depth of 1/16 of an inch at most, and maintain consistent moisture for germination.

Start seeds indoors about weeks prior to last frost, in organic potting soil, either in trays or 2 in containers.

grows on any soil, but prefers light, sandy or gravel ground.

Excellent for pathways and in between patio stones. Often forming mats low to the ground,Ĭreeping Thyme can also be found growing in short-turfed pastures and thrives in meadows, and on cliffs, walls and rocky places. Walk across an area where this is planted in summer, and you will be amazed at its wonderful heady fragrance. Bees are especially fond of the thyme blossoms, as they will extract loads of honey. The flowering parts of the plant are used to make medicine for breathing problems including cough, bronchitis, and swollen airways they also take it for kidney and bladder disorders, to improve blood circulation, to lower bad cholesterol, and to treat intestinal gas and colic.Ĭreeping Thyme is more thickset than Garden Thyme, and is by far the most widespread and abundant of the thyme species. May be lightly mowed from time to time to keep plants low and encourage a second flush of flowers.Ĭreeping Thyme is an herb this variety is an evergreen mat-forming sub shrub bears linear to elliptic to oval mid green colored leaves that appear as pairs along the finely hairy and trailing stems whorls of densely packed heads of two lipped pinky - purple flowers bloom in summer. Both types are edible, but creeping thymes are deemed highly valuable as ground covers. Creeping Thyme has a distinctly creeping habit, and the basic difference between Garden Thyme andĬreeping Thyme is that some are grown for culinary use and others are used primarily in landscaping. Thyme - Creeping (Thymus serpyllum) Organic Creeping Thyme Aromatic Open Pollinated Ground Cover HerbĬreeping Thyme, also known as Breckland thyme, Breckland wild thyme, wild thyme, or elfin thyme, is a species of flowering plant in the mint family Lamiaceae, and is native to most of Europe and North Africa.