Of the wide variety of thyme herbs available, there is a selection of low growing ground cover thymes that can withstand foot traffic, making them a delightful landscaping option.
Plant these thymes between flagstones, along walkways and anywhere you want to grow a low ground cover. Then enjoy the warm spicy scents these thymes release when brushed against or stepped on.
Groundcover thymes are also a great herb to grow in containers and hanging baskets, softly spilling over the sides of the container as they grow.
And just like other thyme varieties, these ground hugging thymes add all sorts of interesting flavour profiles to any kitchen garden.
Featured below is a selection of groundcover thymes from Richters Herbs offerings. I buy most of my herbs from Richters, and if you purchase through a link on my site, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Many of these thymes are also available at greenhouses specializing in herbs, and local garden centers that carry a broad herb selection.
Browse them all below, or click on a link above to take you to each section…Have fun ☺️
Choose from traditional scented thymes, lemon scented thymes, rose scented thyme, spice scented thymes, thyme with super tiny leaves, thyme with fuzzy leaves, thyme with variegaged leaves, an extremely hardy thyme
Traditional Thyme Scent
These traditional scented thymes give off that warm, pleasantly earthy herbal scent most associated with thyme.
Wild Thyme
Wild Thyme:
Hardy in Zones 4 – 8
• Wild thyme gives off that wonderfully familiar thyme scent when the plant is walked on or crushed.
• Wild thyme blooms with purple-pink flowers from June – August.
• Use wild thyme as a culinary herb or tea herb as you would English thyme – wild thyme has a slightly milder aroma.
• Height: 3 inches (approx 7.5 cm)
• Easy to start from seed, which is beneficial if you want to plant thyme in tight spaces
• Wild thyme is usually planted from small potted plants
Creeping Thyme
Creeping Thyme:
Hardy in zones 4 – 8
• Creeping thyme is a low mat-forming thyme with a pungent aroma, that can withstand light foot traffic.
• Creeping thyme blooms with white or rose flowers in July
• Can be used as a culinary herb also
• Height: 3 inches (approx 7.5 cm)
• Creeping Thyme is grown from small potted plants
Minus Thyme
Minus Thyme:
Hardy in zones 5 – 9
• The leaves of Minus of thyme are tiny even compared to the already-small leaves of most thyme cultivars.
• Minus thyme grows densely, low to to ground, and can withstand light foot traffic
• Minus thyme blooms with lavender pink flowers during the summer
• Height: less than 1 inch (up to 2 cm)
• Minus Thyme is grown from small potted plants
Lemon Scented Thymes
These low-growing lemon scented thymes give off a magnificently fragrant fusion of lemon and thyme, when brushed against or stepped on. Deliciously fragrant to cook with too!
Highland Cream Lemon Thyme
Highland Cream Lemon Thyme:
Hardy in zones 5 – 8
• ‘Highland Cream’ is wonderfully aromatic low mat-forming lemon thyme with variegated green and cream coloured leaves
• Doubles as a stunning ornamental herb, and delicious culinary herb (my favourite combination 🙂 )
• ‘Highland Cream’ lemon thyme can stand up to moderate foot traffic
• The flowers of ‘Highland Cream’ are a soft lavender pink, blooming in early summer
• Height: 1 – 2 inches (2 – 5 cm)
• Highland Cream Lemon Thyme is grown from small potted plants
Lemon Carpet Thyme
Lemon Carpet Thyme:
Hardy in zones 6 – 8
• Unique to Richters Herbs, Lemon Carpet thyme is a low growing, ground hugging thyme that withstands foot traffic better than many other thymes
• The fragrance of Lemon Carpet thyme is delightfully lemon with a hint of spice, making it a delicious culinary herb also
• Lemon Carpet Thyme is grown from small potted plants – – this thyme is a RIchters Herbs exclusive variety
Purple Carpet Lemon Thyme
Purple Carpet Lemon Thyme:
Hardy in zones 2 – 9
• Purple Carpet lemon thyme is extremely hardy, easily tolerating cold climates.
•It has a low mat forming growth habit that gives of a deliciously lemon aroma when walked upon, and when used in the kitchen
• The flowers of Purple Carpet lemon thyme are a bright mauve-purple blossoms
• Height: up to 2 inches (up to 5 cm)
• Purple Carpet Lemon Thyme is grown from small potted plants
Rose Scented Thymes
Rose Petal Thyme
Rose Petal Thyme:
Hardy in zones 5 – 9
• Rose Petal thyme is a Richters exclusive that is so easy to fall in love with
• This mat-forming creeping thyme variety is actually rose-scented!
• Awesome rose-scented perfume fills the air when Rose Petal thyme is walked on
• Also unique as a culinary herb, or used to perfume a refreshing summer drink
• Grow Rose Petal Thyme from small potted plants – – this thyme is a RIchters Herbs exclusive variety
Spice Scented Thymes
Experiment with and enjoy the unexpected warm aromas of these thymes reminiscent of other spices in your kitchen cabinet.
Nutmeg Thyme
Nutmeg Thyme:
Hardy in zones 5 – 9
• This low growing thyme gives off the warm scent of nutmeg when walked on or brushed against
• Nutmeg thyme is a creeping, mat-forming thyme with an abundance of mauve-lilac flowers that bloom in early summer.
• Its nutmeg scented leaves make it a fun thyme to play around with in the kitchen
• Height: 2 -4 inches (5 – 10 cm)
• Grow Nutmeg Thyme from small potted plants.
Caraway Thyme
Caraway Thyme:
Hardy in zones 5 – 7
• Caraway thyme has the aroma and flavour of caraway spice
• This low growing thyme variety grows glossy dark green enlongated leaves that can withstand foot traffic
• Pale purple-pink flowers of caraway thyme bloom in early summer
• Can be substituted for caraway in potato salads, bread recipes, meat dishes, and is especially flavourful with beef
• Grow Caraway Thyme from small potted plants.
Thyme With Tiny Leaves
Minus Thyme
Minus Thyme:
Hardy in zones 5 – 9
• The leaves of Minus of thyme are tiny, even compared to most other thymes
• Minus thyme grows densely, low to to ground, and can withstand light foot traffic
• Minus thyme blooms with lavender pink flowers during the summer
• Height: less than 1 inch (up to 2 cm)
• Grow Minus Thyme from small potted plants
Thyme with Fuzzy Leaves
Makes you want to reach out and touch this soft fuzzy thyme plant 🙂
Woolly Thyme
Woolly Thyme:
Hardy in zones 5 – 7
• Woolly thyme grows unique fuzzy leaves, that form a flat mat like appearance
• Its soft green foilage with fine white hairs give wooly thyme its silvery-grey hue and its velvety feel
• Wooly thyme blooms with small pink tubular flowers in the summer
•Wooly thyme loves the sun, and can also tolerate some partial shade
• Although edible, woolly thyme is barely scented and not recommended for culinary use
• Height: under 6 inches (under 15 cm), generally 2 -4 inches (5 – 10 cm)
• Grow Wooly Thyme from small potted plants
Thyme with Variegated Leaves
Although there are many thymes with variegated leaves, there seem to be very few low-growing creeping variegated thymes. This one is a gem
Highland Cream Lemon Thyme
Highland Cream Lemon Thyme:
Hardy in zones 5 – 8
• ‘Highland Cream’ is wonderfullly aromatic low mat-forming lemon thyme with variegated green and cream coloured leaves
• Doubles as a stunning ornamental herb, and delicious culinary herb (my favourite combination 🙂 )
• ‘Highland Cream’ lemon thyme can stand up to moderate foot traffic
• The flowers of ‘Highland Cream’ are a soft lavender pink, blooming in early summer
• Height: 1 – 2 inches (2 – 5 cm)
• Grow Highland Cream Lemon Thyme from small potted plants
Extremely Hardy Thyme
If you live in a harsher climate, or have a spot that gets colder than other parts of your garden in the winter, try this hardy to zone 2 thyme.
Purple Carpet Lemon Thyme
Purple Carpet Lemon Thyme:
Hardy in zones 2 – 9
• Purple Carpet lemon thyme is extremely hardy, easily tolerating cold climates.
•It has a low mat forming growth habit that gives of a deliciously lemon aroma when walked upon, and when used in the kitchen
• The flowers of Purple Carpet lemon thyme are a bright mauve-purple blossoms
• Height: up to 2 inches (up to 5 cm)
• Grow Purple Carpet Lemon Thyme from small potted plants
Growing and Harvesting Notes for Groundcover Thymes:
Thyme herbs are perennials that grow best in well draining soil and full sun, although most will grow just fine in partial shade. Thyme tolerates drought and is a great option for sandy or rocky soils. Thyme is prone to root rot if grown in moist to wet areas of the garden.
For best flavour and aroma, harvest thyme in the morning once the dew has dried. For immediate use, I harvest my thyme whenever I want to use it and it’s just fine. When I am harvesting thyme to dry for future use, I try to harvest it in the morning.
Most thyme herbs are purchased as young plants in small pots. Although a few thyme seed varieties are available, thyme seed germination tends to be slow and uneven making it a more difficult herb to grow from seed.
Online sources for groundcover thymes:
Richters Herbs
Mountain Valley Growers
Amazon (seasonal availability)
Happy Gardening 🙂
Barb
PS – If you like the botanical image at the top of the post, you can get the entire set of 6 herb prints from Amazon..click here
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