Thymus Species, Woolly Thyme, Creeping Thyme, Wild Thyme

Thymuspraecox subsp. britannicus

Family
Lamiaceae (lay-mee-AY-see-ee)
Genus
Thymus (TY-muss)
Synonym
Thymus arcticus
Thymus britannicus
Thymus drucei
Thymus neglectus
Thymus pseudolanuginosus
Sun Exposure
Sun to Partial Shade
Foliage
Herbaceous
Height
under 6 in. (15 cm)
Spacing
9-12 in. (22-30 cm)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F)
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
Danger
N/A
Bloom Color
Lavender
Bloom Time
Mid Summer
Other Details
Category
Herbs
Water Requirements
Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Foliage Color
Where to Grow
Bloom Characteristics
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Bloom Size
Other details
Soil pH requirements
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
7.9 to 8.5 (alkaline)
Patent Information
Non-patented
Propagation Methods
By dividing the rootball
Seed Collecting
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Seward, Alaska

Berkeley, California

Frazier Park, California

Lake of the Woods, California

Northridge, California

Penn Valley, California

Pittsburg, California

Sacramento, California

San Jose, California

Stockton, California

Sunnyvale, California

Delta, Colorado

Denver, Colorado

Boise, Idaho

Cherry Valley, Illinois

Machesney Park, Illinois

Mount Prospect, Illinois

Winnetka, Illinois

Wichita, Kansas

Melbourne, Kentucky

Madison Heights, Michigan

Marshall, Michigan

Royal Oak, Michigan

White Pigeon, Michigan

Albertville, Minnesota

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Marietta, Mississippi

Saint Louis, Missouri

Billings, Montana

Reno, Nevada

Rio Rancho, New Mexico

Alden, New York

Dunkirk, New York

North Tonawanda, New York

West Kill, New York

Kure Beach, North Carolina

Raleigh, North Carolina

Bucyrus, Ohio

Coshocton, Ohio

Fort Jennings, Ohio

Glouster, Ohio

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

West Chester, Pennsylvania

Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania

Christiana, Tennessee

Knoxville, Tennessee

Austin, Texas

Salt Lake City, Utah(2 reports)

Essex Junction, Vermont

Linden, Virginia

Williamsburg, Virginia

East Port Orchard, Washington

Parkwood, Washington

Port Orchard, Washington

Seattle, Washington

Spokane, Washington

Great Cacapon, West Virginia

Oostburg, Wisconsin

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Featured Videos

Gardener's Notes:

15
positives
1
neutral
1
negative
Sort By:
Sort By:
K
K
Oostburg, WI (Zone 5b) | June 2013 | positive

I planted six sad-looking, clearance-end-of-the-season plants along the edge of my driveway bed. There is a concrete wall about a foot h...Read More

E
Minneapolis, MN | April 2011 | positive

Last summer I planted this in a place where it gets shaded by sunflowers, so it grew thin and spindly. But I buried some stems and got th...Read More

A
Seattle, WA | May 2009 | positive

Good ground cover for poor dry soil, sun. Looks sweet spilling over patios and walls. Grows moderately fast.

S
Austin, TX | September 2008 | positive

This is my first year planting thyme in general, which included wooly, elfin, lemon, lime, pink chintz and I think a couple of others. Th...Read More

M
Wappingers Falls, NY | July 2008 | negative

I fell in love with these at the nursery. We planted them on the top of a sloped area, mostly shady. A few days later we got a 3" rainsto...Read More

J
Fort Jennings, OH | June 2008 | positive

I planted woolly thyme in a trough. It overwintered outside very well in my Z5 garden without any protection. It did have a little die ...Read More

M
Dunkirk, NY (Zone 6a) | May 2008 | positive

This is a great spreading groundcover, but I've had mine in for about four years and it's never bloomed. It's spread out to over 2' in di...Read More

J
Port Orchard, WA | December 2007 | positive

Great plant. Drought tolerant, fast spreader, nice pink flowers, easy to propogate by division of clumps, pleasant feel to the touch, can...Read More

G
(Zone 5a) | January 2006 | positive

This is the nicest feeling plant to pet. It spreads well and is easy to take starts of. In the winter it gets a purplish tint.

W
Seward, AK (Zone 3b) | October 2005 | positive

I added this little fellow to one of my raised bed, situating it on the edge of the rocked border. It has climbed over the rock to bask i...Read More

B
| July 2005 | positive

Wonderful plant...as a landscaper, have used this plant as a filler, groundcover and has done really well on greenroofs as well.

G
Hampton, IL (Zone 5a) | May 2005 | positive

This is a great plant for rock gardens, between stepping stones in a walkway or just where ever you need a perennial, low-growing bit of green.

P
Reno, NV (Zone 7a) | May 2005 | positive

I planted a large amount of wooly thyme last year and it survived well through one of the harshest winters I've ever seen in Reno. It is...Read More

C
West Kill, NY | August 2004 | positive

I've loved this plant for over 50 years! I have lost it over the winter many times in my mother's 5b garden in Connecticut, but it has wi...Read More

B
SC, MT (Zone 5a) | August 2004 | positive

A hardy little plant. I started two tiny plugs three years ago in my raised bed. I knew when we finished putting in the stepping stones...Read More

W
Berkeley, CA | August 2004 | positive

I planted a six-pack of small woolly thyme plants between flagstones about 3 months ago (April-ish) in Berkeley, CA. Full sun, not so gr...Read More

L
Grove City, OH (Zone 6a) | April 2002 | neutral

The classic heart-breaker. In areas with hot, humid summer plant typically rots quickly. Light afternoon shade helps. Planting on slop...Read More

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