These hardy and forgiving herbs adapt to a variety of climatic and environmental conditions, even able to survive cold winter weather and sustained frost. The care of elfin thyme isn’t complicated. When growing elfin thyme, the plants require at least five hours of sun per day and should be spaced 6 inches (15 cm.) apart. Shaded areas of growing elfin thyme will tend to clump more while sun exposure encourages the thyme to become more of a ground cover, spreading to a width of about 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 cm.). Growing elfin thyme is hardy to USDA hardiness zone 4 and should be planted in full sun and well draining soil, although it will also adapt to shadier areas. These little guys are adaptable to foot traffic, even fairly heavy foot traffic, and continue to spread while being tromped on, filling the air with their heavenly scent. The slightly fuzzy or haired foliage of a growing elfin thyme works well among stepping stones, trailing through a rock garden and even as a forgiving substitute for grassy lawns. Native to Europe, this little creeping variety of thyme is not only drought and heat tolerant, but deer and rabbit resistant, making it a lovely option for a natural garden landscape. In cold climates, this little herb is deciduous, while in milder regions, the plant will retain its foliage year round.įlowers are borne upon the fragrant green to grayish blue foliage in summer and are extremely attractive to bees. This nugget of information does not completely answer the question of, “What is elfin thyme?” Elfin creeping thyme plant ( Thymus serpyllum) is a low growing, one to two inches (2.5-5 cm.) tall herbaceous perennial sub shrub with a dense mounding habit. Keep reading for information on elfin thyme care. A slightly mounding growth habit will result from lower sun exposure.Īs a named variety, Elfin thyme is only reproduced by vegetative propagation, as if it’s seed propagated it won’t always come true.Elfin creeping thyme plant is as cherubic as its name implies, with small glossy, green aromatic leaves and teeny weensy purple or pink blossoms. Grown in full sun or at least four to six hours of sun will give it compact flat growth. Don’t plant it under eaves or where it will get winter wet, and don’t use salt based de-icers as this will kill it. Plant in very well drained soil if you have clay soil, add some turkey grit or small gravel for extra drainage. The perfect time to do this is if a good rainy spell is in the forecast as hot and dry weather can put an end to them quickly. This year, they are all blooming and filling in nicely. Two years ago, I pulled up generous clumps from an established planting and gave them to the Stairway to Heaven. One of my favorite uses for this variety of thyme is planted around stone steps it fills in quickly and cascades down to cover the sides to soften them. I love the texture of Elfin thyme, like a rough carpet to wriggle your toes in. Pruned back to control the growth just encourages it to grow thicker than ever. The honey made from all kinds of thyme is sought after by the connoisseur. I plant it specifically to attract bees because of the huge quantities of wild pollinators and domestic honeybees that come for the nectar it produces in abundance. This is a very pretty plant, seldom bothered by die-back or diseases. The way the growth appears like scales, on this extremely low-to-the-ground variety is unique. The very fine, compact growth of medium green tiny leaves is covered in pink blooms for about three weeks at the end of June or into July. Thymus serphyllum ‘Elfin’ or Elfin thyme is without a doubt the most perfect thyme to plant in pathways, patios and as a thyme lawn. Other links on this site may lead to other companies that I’m associated with. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |