Creeping thyme / wild thyme
Thymus serpyllum
Creeping thyme / wild thyme (Thymus serpyllum) is a groundcover suited to the Colorado Front Range. It matures to about 1–3 in tall and 12–18 in wide, needs low to medium water, and prefers full sun. Aromatic; takes light foot traffic. Pollinator favorite when in bloom.
low to medium water1–3 in tall and 12–18 in wideXeric / water-wiseDeer-resistant
Photos
At a glance
- Botanical name
- Thymus serpyllum
- Variety / cultivar
- 'Elfin', 'Coccineus'
- Type
- Groundcover
- Mature size
- 1–3 in tall and 12–18 in wide
- Water needs
- low to medium water
- Sun
- full sun
- Colorado native
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Soil
- loam, sandy
- Soil pH
- 6.5–8.0
- Hail tolerance
- high
- Wind tolerance
- moderate
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
- Bloom color
- pink, purple
- Bloom time
- early summer, mid summer
- Pollinator value
- high
- Good for
- between pavers, hellstrip
Planting & establishment
Water weekly first summer. Tolerates light foot traffic — great between flagstones.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Creeping thyme / wild thyme good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes. Creeping thyme / wild thyme is included in the Front Range Plant Finder as a groundcover suited to Colorado's Front Range.
- How big does Creeping thyme / wild thyme get?
- It matures to about 1–3 in tall and 12–18 in wide.
- How much water does Creeping thyme / wild thyme need?
- It needs low to medium water once established.
- Is Creeping thyme / wild thyme native to Colorado?
- No — it is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
