In My Garden Blog
April 24, 2008
Pacific Northwest
By
Patt Kasa,
Seattle, WA
Woolly thyme doesn't mind foot traffic and holds its own against occasional morning marauders.
Scent Underfoot
Colorful and fragrant, thymes are diminutive perennial herbs suitable for any sunny, dry, well-drained spot. I use them between pavers, along walks, and at the top of rock walls where they cascade down in soft mats and root between the rocks.
More than 150 thymes are commercially available, growing either upright as small, erect shrubs or low as creeping mats. My favorites are the creeping thyme cultivars, which present a wealth of choices for unusual, aromatic ground covers. They are separated into two groups: prostrate, which grow less than 3 inches high and resemble lush, sun-loving mosses; and mounding, which form undulating green or silver carpets that are more than 3 inches high. I especially enjoy the prostrate varieties planted among paving stones in paths and terraces, and spilling into my perennial borders. Tread on them and their distinctive fragrance adds a sensual dimension to a garden stroll.
Thymes prefer dry conditions and average garden soil. Too much water and heavy soil cause thymes to rot. When planting, I add sand or gravel to the soil to improve the drainage.
Great Companions
Thymes blend well with other plants. Perennials such as bee balm, sage, pincushion flower, artemisia, yarrow, and iris make interesting companions. In one part of my garden, creeping thyme flows around some dwarf iris and 'Moonshine' yarrow, creating a composition of wildly different foliage textures.
A Few Favorites
Durability, growth habit, color, and fragrance are important considerations when selecting thymes. Most thymes prefer full sun, although a few golden or variegated cultivars, along with woolly thyme, will tolerate partial shade. Watering and fertilizing are rarely necessary once the plants have become established. In fact, dry conditions improve plant vigor, and poor soil increases aromatic oil production, making them more fragrant.
On my flagstone walk, Thymus praecox 'Annie Hall' forms a prostrate mat spreading nearly 15 inches across. Its small, narrow leaves are medium green, covered in June with tiny, bright purple flowers.
Thymus doerfleri 'Bressingham Seedling' is another favorite of mine for its larger, rounded, hairy leaves. It drapes beautifully over rocks, landscape timbers, or inclines.
Thymus 'Doretta Klaber' is one of the finest dwarf thymes. The minute, hairy, green foliage of this plant forms a tight mat that spreads to 12 inches across and is only 1 inch high in bloom. Dark pink flowers appear in spring, and the foliage turns mahogany in winter. It is useful in rock gardens, on slopes, or in containers.
Thymus 'Archer's Gold' has brilliant golden foliage and small pink flowers. The foliage color is most pronounced in cool weather.
A lemony scent and masses of pink flower spikes characterize Thymus 'Pink Ripple'. Its shiny, light-green foliage quickly forms an 18-inch prostrate mat. In my garden, 'Pink Ripple' creeps around alliums and iris, making a soft, scented carpet underfoot.
Thymes are versatile, colorful, and fragrant plants, offering masses of delicate, star-like flowers. You can tuck thyme into a dry wall, stone walkway, or rock garden, or use it as a ground cover or as an edging for a perennial border. These hardy little plants can add swaths of color and fragrance in unexpected places.
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Comments on Scent Underfoot
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emily
This was a very helpful column. Do you buy these thymes as starts
and can you get them going as seeds? And if you use starts, how
much space should be between them to create the "carpet" effect?
thanks!
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Patt
I'm glad you enjoy the article! You can start thyme from seeds. If
you can't find them on the seed rack, you can order them through
catalogs or even the internet. Seeding your own plants will be less
expensive, which might be important if you're doing a large area,
but it takes a long time for the plants to begin creeping. If you
have a large area, such as a flagstone patio, and you want instant
green, I think you'll be happier with already established plants. As
thyme creeps along, it develops roots along the stems wherever they
touch the soil. I generally buy a flat of thyme (you'll find it in
the groundcover section of the garden center) and then cut little 2"
squares or 1" strips from the flat. I plant these 4-6" apart so
they'll fill in quickly but you could space them up to 12" apart.
How far apart you plant them depends on how long you are willing to
wait for them to fill in.
Best wishes with your new thyme!
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Lynda Bersani
Hi Patt,
I too think this is a great article. It has interested me in
planting some thyme in my new garden which still has lots of "empty"
spots to fill in. I am in a brand new house and the soil is heavy
clay. I have been throwing an all purpose outdoor planting mix
along with some peat moss into my planting holes, but am now
considering your suggestion of adding some sand or gravel. Also, I
wonder about the amount of sun I have here, with the houses being
pretty close to each other... do you think it will do well with AM
sun mostly...on an eastern exposure?
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Patt
I think it’s worth a try! Thyme generally prefers full sun but will
adapt morning shade/afternoon sun. At least it has in my Seattle
area garden. Morning sun is not as intense as afternoon sun so if
you plant it in the spot you describe, the thyme may respond with
fewer flowers and slightly more tender growth, which may be prone to
winter kill if you’re in a zone where thyme is marginally hardy. If
you’re in the PNW, go ahead and plant it. I think it will grow well
for you.
Best wishes with your new landscape!
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wynne
Great info! I'm planning to plant creeping thyme under a pergola
between stepping stones. There will be sand between. Will this be
possible?
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Patt
I think thyme would make a terrific addition to the floor of a
pergola. However, there are two concerns: amount of sunlight and
depth of the sand. If there will be a few hours of direct sunshine
on the plants, they should be happy. If the sand is less than
two-inches deep and there are no barriers between the sand and the
earth, the roots of the thyme will be able to penetrate the sand and
grow directly in the soil. If there is a barrier and the thyme can
only grow in the sand, you’ll need to pay special attention to water
and nutrient requirements. Sand drains quickly but with a barrier
beneath it, it could become soggy. There are no nutrients in sand,
so you’ll want to feed the thyme every 2-3 weeks during the growing
season with a half-strength dilution of water soluble fertilizer. As
long as the thyme receives adequate sunshine, is planted in
well-draining soil and is fed periodically, it should thrive between
the stones beneath your pergola.
Enjoy!
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Judy
I would like to grow thyme between flagstones in my garden. After
trying several different types, I have found that Doretta Klaber is
the most beautiful and can withstand winters. Where can I buy seeds?
Thanks.
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Patt
If you already have Dorothy Klaber thyme, you can easily propagate
it by cutting out one-inch squares and replanting in the desired
location. It spreads quite readily. Or, you should be able to
purchase seeds through Nichols Garden Nursery; 1190 Old Salem Road
NE; Albany, Oregon 97321-4580; (800) 422-3985.
Enjoy!
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