Skip to main content
Thymus serpyllum (Wild Thyme)
1 / 13
© Viktoria, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC) · iNaturalist
Groundcovers

Thymus serpyllum

Wild Thyme

Lamiaceae
Europe and North Africa — from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean and western Asia; dry grassland, rocky slopes, and heath

Learn more

At a Glance

TypePerennial
HabitSpreading
FoliageEvergreen
Height2-4 inches (5-10 cm)
Width12-24 inches (30-60 cm)
Maturity2 years

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

4 - 8
Zone 4Zone 5Zone 6Zone 7Zone 8
These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.
What's my zone? →
Frost Tolerancehardy

Key Features

Attracts PollinatorsAttracts ButterfliesDeer ResistantDrought TolerantFragrant (moderate)Container Friendly
Maintenancelow

Overview

Thymus serpyllum is wild thyme (creeping thyme), a prostrate spreading evergreen perennial growing 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) tall and 12-24 inches (30-60 cm) wide. Magenta-pink to purple-pink flowers densely covering the foliage mat in June-August (7 weeks). Dark green tiny oval aromatic leaves 0.1-0.3 inch (3-8 mm). In Lamiaceae. Serpyllum = creeping. Native to Europe and North Africa. Hardier than most creeping thymes (zone 4). Tolerates light to moderate foot traffic — releases thyme scent when walked on. The 7-week bloom and dense flower coverage distinguish T. serpyllum from T. pseudolanuginosus (woolly, sparse flowers). Mildly culinary. Crown rot in wet heavy soil — sharp drainage required. This drainage requirement is the primary cultural limitation. Deer-resistant. Non-toxic. Zones 4-8. Full sun. Growth rate is moderate.

Native Range

Native to Europe and North Africa — from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean and western Asia. Found in dry grassland, rocky slopes, and heath.

Suggested Uses

Grown as a walkable ground cover between stepping stones, in rock gardens, over walls, and in containers of at least 1 gallon (3.8 L), spaced 12-24 inches (30-60 cm). Walkable. 7-week bloom. Sharp drainage. Non-toxic. Zones 4-8.

How to Identify

Identified by a prostrate dark green aromatic mat densely covered in magenta-pink to purple-pink flowers in summer. The smooth (not woolly) dark green leaves and the dense flower coverage distinguish T. serpyllum from T. pseudolanuginosus (woolly silver-gray, sparse flowers). In Lamiaceae.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2" - 4"
Width/Spread1' - 2'

Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years

Colors

Flower Colors

pink
purple

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~7 weeks
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Summer
Summer (June-August). Magenta-pink to purple-pink 2-lipped flowers 0.1-0.2 inch (3-5 mm) densely covering the foliage mat. 7 weeks. Bee- and butterfly-visited.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Magenta-pink to purple-pink, tiny, 2-lipped, 0.1-0.2 inch (3-5 mm), densely covering the foliage mat at peak bloom; June-August (7 weeks — one of the longest-blooming creeping thymes)

Foliage Description

Dark green, tiny, oval, 0.1-0.3 inch (3-8 mm), strongly aromatic when walked on or crushed (thyme scent); the smooth (not woolly) leaf surface distinguishes this from T. pseudolanuginosus; evergreen year-round

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Full Sun
Requires 6-12 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

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 8.0(Neutral)
357912
Soil Types
sandloamchalkrocky
Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

1-2 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Full sun (6-12 hours). Well-drained sandy, chalky, or rocky soil pH 6.0-8.0. Sharp drainage — crown rot in wet heavy soil. Drought-tolerant. Tolerates foot traffic. Shear lightly after bloom (July-August). Mildly culinary. Non-toxic. Deer-resistant. Zones 4-8.

Pruning

Shear lightly after the main bloom flush (July-August) to maintain a tight mat. This post-bloom shearing may encourage a secondary flush.

Pruning Schedule

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
summer

Maintenance Level

low

Container Growing

✓ Suitable for container growing

Minimum container size: 1 gallons

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Non-toxic