Creeping Thyme plant profile
Thymus serpyllum
A perennial ornamental for full sun.
Last updated .
When to plant
When to plant Creeping Thyme
Creeping thyme is a low, woody evergreen groundcover that carpets pathways and rock gardens with tiny pink-to-purple flowers from early summer into early fall (NC State: June to September). Plant in spring in full sun in sandy, gritty, well-drained soil; it is drought tolerant and rots if overwatered, so let it run dry between waterings.
The calendar shows this cited seasonal window as an approximate band. It does not convert the season into frost-adjusted dates.
Open Creeping Thyme in my garden calendarShows the source-backed planting season, not frost-adjusted dates.
Growing conditions
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 6 to 8
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 4a to 9bFind my hardiness zone
Common problems
Watch for these
Evidence trail
Evidence behind this profile
Original extension and institutional publications behind the planting, care, and safety facts on this page.
- Thymus serpyllum (Breckland Thyme, Creeping Thyme, Mother of Thyme, Wild Thyme)
North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (NC State Extension). Supports general reference. Checked 2026-06-18.