Thymus praecox Opiz
Mother Of Thyme
Wild thyme is a low, mat-forming aromatic perennial in the mint family, native to Britain and much of Europe. It spreads into dense, ground-hugging cushions of tiny, dark-green leaves that release a warm, herby scent when brushed or crushed.
About
Wild thyme is a low, mat-forming aromatic perennial in the mint family, native to Britain and much of Europe. It spreads into dense, ground-hugging cushions of tiny, dark-green leaves that release a warm, herby scent when brushed or crushed. From early to late summer the mats are studded with rounded heads of small two-lipped flowers in shades of rose-pink to purple, carried barely above the foliage.
It is a plant of sunny, free-draining ground, thriving on the thin, base-rich soils of chalk and limestone grassland, as well as rocky banks, short coastal turf and old walls. The flowers are a magnet for bees, hoverflies and small butterflies, making it a valuable nectar source on dry sites. Tough and creeping, it is well suited to short-turf meadows, sunny banks, green roofs, rockeries and the gaps between paving where many other plants struggle.
Also known as
Wild Thyme · creeping thyme · mother-of-thyme
Synonyms
Thymus caespitosus · Thymus humifusus · Thymus serpyllum humifusus · Thymus serpyllum lanuginosus · Thymus serpyllum pfiffianus · Thymus serpyllum praecox · Thymus zygiformis euxinus
In our seed mixes
Beta — under active development. This catalogue is still being built and accuracy-checked. The information here (including plant identifications, British native status, soil and sun/shade preferences) is provided in good faith for general guidance only and may contain errors or omissions. It must not be relied upon on its own — please confirm details with us before making planting, specification, foraging or purchasing decisions, and never eat or medicinally use any plant based on this catalogue alone, as some species are toxic. To the extent permitted by law, Phoenix Amenity Supplies accepts no liability for any loss arising from use of this information.