Thymus praecox
mother of thyme
Overview
Thymus praecox is a low, mat-forming evergreen subshrub in the mint family (Lamiaceae), growing 1-4 inches (3-10 cm) tall and spreading 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) across by trailing, rooting stems. The small, oval, dark green leaves are 0.1-0.3 inch (3-8 mm) long and aromatic when crushed, releasing a warm, herbal scent. From early to late summer the mats are covered with dense rounded clusters of tubular two-lipped flowers in pink to purple, with white-flowered forms in cultivation. The wiry stems root as they creep, knitting into a dense carpet that tolerates light foot traffic and close planting between paving. It grows on dry, sharply drained, neutral to alkaline ground and withstands heat and drought once established. In heavy, wet, or shaded soil the plant grows poorly and is short-lived, and older mats can become woody and bare at the center, calling for division or replanting. The foliage holds through winter in mild climates, bronzing in hard cold. Flowers draw bees and other pollinating insects across the flowering season.
Native Range
Native to western, central, and northern Europe, including Britain, where it grows on dry grassland, heaths, dunes, rocky slopes, and short turf over chalk and other base-rich soils. It ranges from lowland pastures into mountain grassland across its distribution.Suggested Uses
Used as groundcover in rock gardens, gravel gardens, and dry banks, and planted between stepping stones and paving where light treading releases its scent. Grown in green roofs, wall tops, and troughs on free-draining mixes. Combined with other drought-tolerant plants in pollinator and herb plantings.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1" - 4"
Width/Spread1' - 1'6"
Bloom Information
Flowering runs from June through August, peaking in midsummer when the mats are densely covered in colour. Spent heads fade to brown and can be sheared off to tidy the planting. Bees, hoverflies, and butterflies visit the flowers steadily through the season.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
pink to purpleFoliage Description
dark greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grow in full sun on light, sharply drained, neutral to alkaline soil of low fertility; sandy, gritty, and stony ground suits it. Water during establishment only, after which the plant tolerates drought and needs no routine irrigation. Rich feeding produces soft, sprawling growth and is avoided. Wet winter soil is the main cause of loss, so drainage matters more than cold hardiness. Trim the mats lightly after flowering to keep them dense and slow the woody, bare centers that develop with age. Divide or replant every few years where the middle of a clump thins out.Pruning
Shear the whole mat back lightly after the main flush of flowers to remove spent heads and encourage compact regrowth. Old, leafless wood resprouts slowly, so cuts are kept within the leafy growth. A second light trim in early spring clears winter-worn foliage.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons