Befriending Tenacious Thyme

Enlarge Image Image Gallery Woolly thyme (Thymus pseudolanuginosus) is a creeping thyme that makes a beautiful groundcover for hot, dry areas. Photo by Jerry Pavia

A little plant grows over the rocky hills of the Mediterranean basin, filling the air with its savory scent and covering the ground with thick mats of tiny green leaves. The ancient Greeks called it thimari, meaning “courage.” Today, we call it thyme.

(Click here to view our thyme photo gallery.)

It’s easy to see why this tenacious plant impressed the Greeks. Some thymes are no more than an inch high but continue to spread outward until a hard surface bars their roots. Some make tidy mounds to a foot wide and a few inches high. They all have tiny flowers, tiny leaves and wiry stems. They look dainty. But if you have a hot, dry spot where nothing else will grow, you’ll be surprised by how tough thymes can be.  

Thyme-Infused Recipes

• Roast Pork Loin with Lemon, Garlic and Thyme
• Grilled Rib-Eye Steak with Red Wine and Thyme
• Baked Tilapia with Thyme and Green Olives
• Crab Chowder with Thyme
• Berries with Warm Lemon Thyme Honey 
• Pan-Fried Apples with Thyme 

Thymes are botanically confusing. Their tiny flowers and leaves make them a challenge to identify. Their tendency to seed around and revert makes cultivars highly unstable. Many in the trade are confused. So the best way to choose a thyme is to use your eyes and nose to find one that you like.

Thyme Varieties

It is simplest to consider thymes in two groups: creeping varieties (generally originating from Thymus praecox) and bushy varieties (originating from T. vulgaris). Creeping thymes tend to be primarily ornamental. Their leaves are edible, but their shoots are so short that they’re difficult to use. Their scents often dissipate during cooking, leaving no significant taste. They have a prostrate habit and form thick mats of wiry stems covered in tiny green leaves. Quick drainage, full sun and good air circulation are the keys to success with creeping thymes. They are suitable for groundcover in hot, dry areas.