Botanical Name: Thymus serpyllum
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Common Name: Mother-of-Thyme  
Plant photo of: Thymus serpyllum
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Water Saving Tip:

Replace turf with groundcovers, trees, and shrubs. If you have areas where no one uses the grass, patches that do not grow well, or a turf area too small to water without runoff, consider replacing the turf with water-efficient landscaping.

  • Anatomy

  • Culture

  • Design

Plant Type

Ground cover, Perennial, Herb

 

Height Range

Under 1'

 

Flower Color

Purple

 

Flower Season

Summer

 

Leaf Color

Dark Green

 

Bark Color

n/a

 

Fruit Color

n/a

 

Fruit Season

n/a

Information by: Stephanie Duer
Photographer:

  • Description

  • Notes

Mother-of-thyme is a woody based perennial which is primarily used as a ground cover. Numerous, thin, somewhat woody stems form a low mat (2 to 3 inches tall and 12 or so inches across) with tiny, rounded, glossy blue-green leaves. Leaves are aromatic, though usually not considered to be of culinary quality. Clusters of tiny, tubular, deep pink flowers appear in summer. Flowers are attractive to bees. There are many cultivars with a more dependably low habit; the species is a bit taller and so is best used at the sides of walks of paths, or to edge a sunny border.