Description
The Creeping Thyme Variety Seed Collection is a set of four creeping thymes — red, elfin, wooly, and white — for planting a tapestry thyme lawn or path in a range of colours, heights, and textures. Combine them for a living patchwork, or trial them side by side.
Seed specifications
| Species | Common name | Leaf / blade | Zone | Height | Bloom | ASPCA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thymus serpyllum coccineus | Red creeping thyme | Tiny leaf | 4–9 | 2–4 in | Magenta, Jun–Aug | Non-toxic |
| Thymus serpyllum ‘Elfin’ | Elfin thyme | Tiny leaf | 4–9 | 1–2 in | Pink, summer | Non-toxic |
| Thymus pseudolanuginosus | Wooly thyme | Wooly grey leaf | 4–8 | 1–3 in | Sparse pink | Non-toxic |
| Thymus serpyllum ‘Albus’ | White creeping thyme | Tiny leaf | 4–9 | 2–3 in | White, summer | Non-toxic |
ASPCA: All Thymus species are listed by the ASPCA as non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.
Why choose Creeping Thyme Variety Seed Collection
A tapestry thyme lawn is more interesting than any single variety. This collection gathers four creeping thymes that differ in flower colour and foliage — magenta red, tight low elfin, silver wooly, and clean white — so you can plant a patchwork of tone and texture across a path or lawn.
All four share the creeping-thyme character: drought tolerance once established, a love of full sun and sharp drainage, and germination in about 14–21 days from surface-sown seed, per NC State Extension. They knit together into a single low, fragrant, walkable mat over the first couple of seasons.
Sow them mixed for a blended tapestry, or in drifts to read as distinct patches. Every variety flowers for pollinators and needs no mowing, and all Thymus species are ASPCA non-toxic to pets.
Best uses
| Application | Suitability | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tapestry thyme lawns | Excellent | Four varieties give colour and texture. |
| Paths and paver gaps | Excellent | All take light foot traffic and stay low. |
| Pollinator planting | Very Good | A long, varied bloom season feeds bees. |
| Trialling thyme varieties | Excellent | Compare colours and habits side by side. |
| Rock and gravel gardens | Very Good | Thrives in sharp drainage and sun. |
| Wet or shaded ground | Poor | Thymes need full sun and sharp drainage. |
Creeping thyme varieties compared
| Variety | Height | Look | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red creeping | 2–4 in | Magenta bloom | Bold colour, paths |
| Elfin | 1–2 in | Tightest, slow | Paver gaps |
| Wooly | 1–3 in | Silver, fuzzy | Texture, rockeries |
| White | 2–3 in | White bloom | Contrast, borders |
| Mother of thyme | 2–4 in | Purple-pink, vigorous | Dependable cover |
Zone & climate compatibility
| Zone | Performance | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 4–5 | Very Good | Hardy but slower to establish; give it full sun and sharp drainage. |
| Zone 6–7 | Excellent | Ideal range; strong bloom and fast Year-2 spread. |
| Zone 8–9 | Very Good | Thrives with drainage; avoid soggy soil and excessive summer irrigation. |
How to sow Creeping Thyme Variety Seed Collection
- Prepare a lean, gritty, weed-free bed in full sun. Thyme wants sharp drainage and a neutral-to-alkaline pH (about 6.5–8.0); work in grit if your soil holds water.
- Mix the fine seed with sand. Blend the tiny seed with dry, coarse sand at roughly 1 part seed to 4 parts sand so it broadcasts evenly.
- Surface-sow — do not cover. Scatter over the surface and press in; thyme seed is photoblastic and needs light to germinate. A useful rate is about 1/8 lb per 5,000 sq ft (double for faster cover).
- Mist to keep moist. Water with a fine mist so seed is not washed away, keeping the surface damp until germination — typically 14–21 days at 60–70°F.
- Expect a slow first year. Year 1 is root-building with roughly 30–50% cover; Year 2 fills to 70–90% and blooms; Year 3 is a dense, self-maintaining mat.
- Sow in late spring once soil has warmed, or start indoors and set out plugs 8–12 in apart for faster establishment.
Care & maintenance
- Do not overwater established thyme; it prefers lean, dry conditions and rots in soggy soil.
- Give one post-bloom trim in mid-to-late summer to keep the mat tidy and dense.
- Weed by hand in Year 1 while the mat closes; once dense it suppresses most weeds itself.
- No feeding needed — rich soil and fertiliser make thyme leggy and open.
Sources
- NC State Extension — Thymus serpyllum profile: plants.ces.ncsu.edu
- Penn State Extension — establishing ground covers: extension.psu.edu
- Colorado State University Extension — ground covers: extension.colostate.edu
- ASPCA — toxic and non-toxic plants: www.aspca.org
Related thyme seed: Thymewalk Red Creeping Thymes Thymeturf Creeping Thyme Grass Lawn
Learn more: Creeping thyme lawn guide How fast does creeping thyme grow?
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