Product description
Boasting tiny evergreen leaves, creeping purple thyme is ideal for adding texture to almost any part of the garden. Its spreading habit makes it perfect for ground cover, and it is drought-tolerant so is well-suited to rockeries and gravel gardens. Creeping thyme also grows well planted in pots alongside other sun-loving herbs, like oregano.
In summer, creeping purple thyme is covered in small bell-shaped purple flowers from June to September. These blooms are a magnet for pollinators and attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects to the garden.
Thyme is a versatile culinary herb and has a variety of uses in the kitchen. It is excellent for flavouring stews, soups, savoury preserves, and stuffings and complements fish and chicken dishes. Thyme works well in bouquet-garni, and its decongestant properties make it a popular choice of herbal tea. However, despite being just as aromatic and flavourful as bushier varieties, creeping thyme isn’t often used for cooking.
Creeping purple thyme is a low maintenance plant that is easy to grow. It is hardy to harsh winter temperatures and only needs to be watered during prolonged dry spells. A trim after flowering helps maintain the plant’s neat size and shape and, when necessary, large clumps should be divided in spring.
Please Note: When purchasing plants, please consider that each live item is unique and may therefore differ from the images shown, which are for illustration purposes only. The plant will be supplied in a growers pot. Depending on season, some plants may be pruned back to encourage growth and deciduous plants may arrive without leaves.
Garden Plant Size Guide
Plants in larger pots can be multiple years older than their smaller counterparts with more mature root systems and foliage. This makes them able to thrive as a full size plant in your garden quicker than smaller alternatives.
The most common size of pot that garden plants come in are 9cm/1L/3L/5L this is in reference to the diameter at the top of the pot.
9cm potted plants still remain the most popular cost effective option though, they just may take a little patience to allow them to grow into full maturity once planted in your garden.
Plant specs, care guide & tips
Key features
Specifications
When to plant
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
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Planting and period of interest times are general guidelines and may vary based on your location and conditions. For best results, consult local gardening resources.
Instructions
Top Tip
Cut back after flowering to maintain the plant’s dense, bushy appearance.
How to Water
Water young plants regularly during their first season. Thyme is drought tolerant once established, only needing to be watered during particularly dry spells. Bear in mind that container-grown plants need to be watered more frequently.
How to Plant
Choose a warm, sheltered spot in full sun and plant thyme in well-draining soil, leaving 20-30cm between plants. In areas with heavy or clay soils, plant thyme in containers with pebbles in the bottom for drainage.