Woolly Thyme
Woolly thyme is a low-growing plant with tiny fuzzy, grey-green leaves. In late spring, it is covered by small pinkish-purple flowers. Never growing taller than 1 inch, it is a great plant for rock gardens or in between flagstone steps.
Woolly Thyme
Woolly thyme is a low-growing plant with tiny fuzzy, grey-green leaves. In late spring, it is covered by small pinkish-purple flowers. Never growing taller than 1 inch, it is a great plant for rock gardens or in between flagstone steps.
Plant details
Botanic Name
Thymus pseudolanuginosus
Pronunciation
TY-muss soo-doh-LAN-gin-OH-sus
Mature Height
0.5 to 1 in.
Mature Spread
12 to 18 in.
Water usage
One Droplet: Water twice per month or less, once established.
Two Droplets: Water about once per week, once established.
Three Droplets: Water about twice per week, once established.
Flower Color
purple-pink
Bloom time
early summer
Colorado Native
No
Natural Habitat
Mediterranean
Light Requirements
sun
Cold Hardiness
USDA zones 4-8
Elevation Limit
hardy to 8,500 ft.
Performance
Woolly thyme has produced variable results at the Xeriscape Demonstration Garden. It grows well in protected locations, especially those that have persistent snow cover during the winter. However, in open, dry sites it often dies back over the winter. It seems to grow best at higher elevations or with regular winter watering.
Maintenance
Winter watering will help prevent dieback in areas with no persistent snow cover.
See in a landscape
After removing the existing bluegrass, flowering ground covers were planted that use less water than a traditional lawn and without all the, mowing, trimming and fertilizing. As the plants mature, they will grow only a few inches tall and about 1-1.5 feet wide to cover the entire soil surface. This type of landscaping may be watered with drip pipe that has the emitters built into it (in-line drip), or efficient overhead spray nozzles that are set less frequently than for bluegrass as these plants like to dry out between watering. Make sure to water a groundcover lawn once a month in the winter to make sure these plants are healthy and ready to grow in spring.