Miniature Thyme Thymus serpyllum 'Elfin'
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- THY-mus ser-PIE-lum
- Description
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Elfin Thyme is a miniature cultivar grown primarily as an ornamental groundcover, not as a culinary herb. It grows only 1-3 inches high and spreads to 1 to 1.5 feet. Preference is for full sun in sandy loam or rocky soils with good drainage. Tiny tubular pink flowers appear in summer that attract pollinators. Prune as needed to reduce an overabundance of woody stems.
Use this plant to cascade over walls, between stepping stones, for edging border fronts, in containers, or rock gardens. It will tolerate light foot traffic.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. It can suffer root rot on poorly drained soils.
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Dry Rock Stream Garden Collector’s Garden Crevice Garden at the Guilford County Extension Center
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Thymus
- Species:
- serpyllum
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Edibility:
- Leaves are usable as a flavoring in cooking
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 1 in. - 0 ft. 3 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Creeping
- Horizontal
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Tiny lavender-pink 4-petaled tubular flowers appear in summer.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Orbicular
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Tiny oval to round leaves are pubescent and slightly fragrant.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Woody stems with hairs
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Rock Wall
- Slope/Bank
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Foot Traffic
