Thymus polytrichus A. Kern. ex Borbás
wild thyme
A low-growing, creeping, mat-forming evergreen sub-shrub with small, fragrant, dark green to grey woolly foliage and very small pale pink flowers which appear from June to July. Not suitable for culinary use but great for ground cover, in cracks and stone walls and also for pollinating insects
Other common names
brotherwortChrist's bedstraw
see moreChrist's blood
hillwort
mother of thyme
pellamountain
penny mountain
serpolet oil plant
breath of God
Synonyms
Thymus serpyllum misapplied
Size
Ultimate height
Up to 10cmTime to ultimate height
5–10 yearsUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drainedpH
Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green Grey Silver | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Pink | Green Grey Silver | ||
| Autumn | Green Grey Silver | |||
| Winter | Green Grey Silver |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or ShelteredDrought resistance
Yes Hardiness
H5Botanical details
- Family
- Lamiaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Habit
- Matforming
- Genus
Thymus are evergreen woody-based perennials, shrub or sub-shrubs with small aromatic leaves and terminal whorls of small, 2-lipped, tubular, purple, pink or white flowers in late spring or summer
- Name status
Correct
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in well drained, alkaline to neutral soil in full sun. Won't tolerate wet or waterlogged conditions. Will tolerate drought and poor soils. See thyme cultivation for more information
Propagation
Propagate by division or semi-hardwood cuttings
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Cottage and informal garden
- Gravel garden
- Mediterranean climate plants
- Rock garden
- Wildlife gardens
- Low Maintenance
- Garden edging
- Ground cover
Pruning
Lightly trim to remove dead flowers. Cut back harder after flowering to keep bushy and compact
Pests
Generally pest-free
Diseases
Generally disease-free
Get involved
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