Thymus spp. (Creeping Thymes)
Creeping thymes are generally either mound-forming or grow horizontally 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 'Creeping Lime' and some of the lemon-scented cultivars are quite tasty as well. 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. Thymes are famously promiscuous and nomenclature is a bit of a mess so in most cases we've referred to the publications of Margaret Easter (Thymus Website) who has studied the genus thoroughly.
Requirements: Full Sun and well draining soil. Drought tolerant.
Height: to 6 in. Spread: to 2 ft.
Thymus 'Caborn Wine & Roses'
A popular 2007 introduction by Margaret Easter of LW Plants in England. Dark green leaves with purple-pink flowers and a splash of crimson.
Thymus 'Chehalem Valley'
Our own introduction; 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.
Thymus 'Creeping Lime'
A 1997 introduction by Betty Ann Addison of Rice Creek Gardens, MN. Mat-forming with chartreuse foliage and a wonderful lime aroma. A great culinary option.
Thymus 'Doone Valley'
Known as creeping lemon thyme; 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.
Thymus 'Fairie'
A 1997 introduction raised by David Baird of Fairie Gardens in Tumwater, WA. Light pink flower clusters and grey-green foliage with a strong lemon scent. Grows into a shrublet (not a creeping thyme).
Thymus 'Latavin Lucy'
A 1997 introduction by Bluebird Nursery Inc. of Clarkson, NE named for its origin in the Caucasus Mountains. Mat-forming with dark green leaves and rose-purple flowers.
Thymus 'Lemon Frost'
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.
Thymus 'Lemon Pincushion'
Our own 1998 introduction of a seedling of unknown parentage. Forms a cushion of long, narrow foliage with a sweet lemon scent. Blooms light pink flowers in summer.
Thymus 'Linear Leaf Lilac'
A cultivar of unknown origin from before 1982. Mat-forming with dark green linear leaves. Lilac flowers in summer.
Thymus 'Red Elf'
Allegedly a seedling of T. 'Elfin'. Mat-forming with a very compact growth habit and dark crimson flowers in summer.
T. caespititius 'Tuffet'
A mound-forming thyme with narrow, bright green foliage that is somewhat pine-scented. Blooms pink flowers in summer.
T. herba-barona
Known as caraway thyme. A mat-forming species from Corsica and Sardinia with dark green foliage and a very strong caraway scent. Blooms pale mauve flowers in summer.
T. pseudolanuginosus
Known as woolly thyme. Forms a tight, mat of gray-green, fuzzy foliage. Blooms small pink flowers in summer. Especially drought tolerant.
T. quinquecostatus f. albus
Known as White Mongolian Thyme (native to Mongolia, Japan and Korea). Mat-forming with round, pale-green foliag and white flowers in summer.
Thymus sp. (Creeping Red)
Description coming soon.
T. serpyllum 'Minor'
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.
T. serpyllum 'Pink Chintz'
A very popular 1939 introduction by T. Hilling & Co. of Surrey, England. Mat-forming with narrow foliage and blush pink flowers in summer.
T. serpyllum 'White Moss'
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.
T. thracicus
Known as lavender thyme. A vigorous mat-forming species from the Balkan Peninsula. Blooms purple-pink flowers in summer.