Wow, what a great start you have, I'm jealous! Almost all types of thyme thrive in full sun, and creeping thyme is no different. Elfin creeping thyme plant (Thymus serpyllum) is a low growing (1-2 inches)(2.5-5 cm.) it creeps if stepped on fairly regularly, and gets to about 4-6" if not. One of our favourite selections of creeping thyme, 'Elfin' is an even smaller, more compact cultivar with shell pink flowers in early summer. All are evergreen. Also known as woodland stonecrop, Sedum ternatum is native to North America and can thrive in both sun and shade. 4 to 6 inches tall in sun or partial shade. It is very low-growing, feels wonderful underfoot, and makes my guests very happy because of the bright and minty scent. In cold climates, this little herb is deciduous, while in milder regions, the plant will retain its foliage year round. It does need some sun to bloom - which is off and on from Spring to Fall. Hee, I was writing my post at the same time as Nancy apparently. Creeping jenny will grow in any average soil and in sun or shade, though we think it stands out more in shade, lighting up shady areas of the garden. It is sold as either Laurentia or Isotoma as the scientific name. I can't seem to get creeping thyme established there, though it might be drainage issues rather than shade. SOIL REQUIREMENTS: Thyme grows best in light, dry, well-drained soil. tall herbaceous perennial sub shrub with a dense mounding habit. Bar and Counter Stools With Free Shipping, Great Design Plant: Creeping Juniper Holds Its Ground, Great Design Plant: Golden Creeping Jenny, Herb Garden Essentials: How to Grow Thyme. You may want to use a little water to spray the dust off of your synthetic turf every once in a while, but that is all the water you will need with this low-maintenance ground cover option. This one can grow to a height of between one and three feet, so if your oregano plants get more than a foot tall, you will likely want to cut them back to keep them low enough to use as a ground cover. It will spread well on its own, and you can easily take cuttings and plant them to encourage faster growth over a larger area. Here it accents the purple leaves of ‘Chameleon’ spurge. Culture. another thought is pennyroyal. Why Creeping Thyme Is an Optimal Ground Cover. Gorgeous flowers. tammy. It is on this list because it is a drought-tolerant option that does just fine in shade, but it also offers a lovely fragrance and is a great creeper. Colorful and fragrant, they are versatile accent plants. Sedum sexangulare looks like a miniature conifer forest to me. Coral bells will do well along the border. It likes a dry to medium amount of water and is very drought tolerant. Its redeeming factor is that is has very pretty leaves - but it can get out of control by doing its job -- being a ground cover. Once established, creeping thyme is drought tolerant — another bonus for my drought-afflicted area. Golden creeping jenny and sweet woodruff do well for me in full shade. Photo Credits (in order of appearance): Wikimedia Commons/Borealis55; Wikimedia Commons/Mason Brock; Wikimedia Commons/Peter coxhead; Wikimedia Commons/EnLorax, 7310 Miramar Rd #300, San Diego, CA 92126. In summer, pretty, tiny lavender flowers nearly cover the groundhugging mats of foliage that grow to about 1 or 2 inches in height. little purple flowers, likes moisture- trying to recall the name... cymbalaria muralis; kenilworth ivy. Feb 22, 2018 - Creeping Thyme Coccineus is one of the very best flowering groundcovers. I agree with tellagraham. I would like to plant something like creeping thyme in front of the liriope. Its growth habit tends to mound and billow more than white or red creeping thyme, and is very effective around hardscapes or as a small-scale lawn substitute. Please enter your information to confirm. It is a fairly common low, growing variety. Just planted that last weekend. Liriope (Lilyturf) Liriope is a type of fast-growing perennial landscaping plant that provides excellent … It should do well in your 7a, Brenda. Tomorrow....I pick up my riding mower! Thymus Coccineus Group (Creeping Thyme) includes dwarf, aromatic sub-shrubs forming a showy carpet of tiny, glossy, blue-green leaves. Often seen in driveways, walkways or patio areas, this no-water ground cover is an ideal option for homeowners who have very little time for yard maintenance or who need to cover a large area quickly. Succulents for Shade: Drought Tolerant Garden Succulent Guide, 7 Drought-Tolerant Herbs for Southern California Gardens + Tips, 8 Drought-Tolerant Plants to Line Your Driveway, 10 Great Plants for Drought that Are not Succulents, 10 Tips for Gardening in Drought Conditions, 10 Easy Succulents for Your Drought-Tolerant Garden, Paver Patterns and Design Ideas for Your Patio, Artificial Grass Installation Services in San Diego and Orange County, Artificial Grass Cost – Installation Price Guide. Make sure to plant creeping thyme 8 to 12 inches apart to allow for proper spreading. Both looks are pleasant. Another thought is golden oregano, but it's not as aromatic as thyme. Creeping thyme is also known as wild thyme or mother of thyme. Take care when planting it to ensure that it isn’t shaded by taller plants, especially if using it as ground cover around the base of shrubs and trees. Elfin Creeping Thyme. Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting gallery. As many as 300 varieties of thyme tempt us during a visit to the garden store, but one of the most lovely types for groundcover is Thymus praecox ‘Coccineus’, otherwise known as “creeping thyme,” “wild thyme” or sometimes “mother of thyme.”. again, they are invasive, but could work if kept in check. Cute little yellow flowers. Rich in nectar, they attract butterflies. It has pale green pointy leaves with white striped edges that would match the variegated Lirope. Sedums can give you the look you want - they just won't have the thyme smell. Then to create a gateway impression on either side of the section that looks like a walkway, to the left of the planted lilies - maybe two big pots of something impressive, like big tuberous begonias or trumpet vines, if you don't mind bringing them in for the winter. A few years ago I added a willow tree to my back yard & this year I added a Wisteria. I like your combo. Then there will be a pine straw path which goes around to my garden. The most popular is Mother of Thyme. With tiny round leaves that come in gray-green shades, the elfin thyme puts on a show with lavender flowers that bloom in the early summer. 9 Drought-Tolerant Ground Covers for Shade. I second ASVInteriors advice to consult local nursery. It can handle dry to moist soil and full sun to deep shade. Realistically, some plants will be just fine for 5 or 10 years, then a particular storm will destroy them. There are also white, pink, and red flowers available. -Ais. Harvest creeping thyme in the morning … You may need to rake leaves out of your bark every once in a while or replenish it every couple of years to keep it looking new and fresh, but that is just about all it takes to keep this option looking great. Blue star creeper is another that is said to handle some shade but I have never tried. Another one is Sedum lineare that prefers some shade since it cooks in the full sun. The plant does well in either full sun or partial shade. Maybe if I added some sand to the soil around the stepping stones I could get it going. You do not want larger plants blocking smaller ones. Both this and the sun-loving cultivars prefer well-draining soil and can tolerate drought conditions. It rots out every other year or so depending on the weather. In very hot climates, thyme will need part shade to do well. This plant blooms profusely in early summer but does not compete well with other plants. Thanks for the name of the sedum Nancedar! Spectacular in bloom - … It will need a little water after planting but is a highly drought-tolerant succulent once established. The perennial is a prominent low maintenance ground cover plant in alkaline soils. Blooming profusely from early to mid summer, it features clusters of small, salmon-pink flowers. I just replanted some variegated liriope in front of it. Creeping thyme grows well in USDA hardy zones 4-9. (Thymus praecox) It can be tricky to get anything to grow in the shade, but it is particularly difficult to find plants that are both shade loving and drought tolerant. Rich in nectar, they attract butterflies. If you want a continuous blanket of foliage and flowers that goes from a sunny area of your yard into a shady area, periwinkle is a good choice, since it can thrive in either environment. My front flower beds are usually annuals & I have my "crazy cutting garden" by the back porch. If you intend for the garden to be viewed from all sides, consider putting the tallest in the middle (probably the boxwood eventually) and go down in size from there. Appears to have more flowers than foliage during its peak blooms. Thyme is hardy to zone 5. Blue Star Creeper is an evergreen that might also be acceptable in part shade. 8. Originally from the Mediterranean where it grows in rocky areas, we grow this useful plant along the edges of garden walls as well as in the general garden border. 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