Cheddar pink vs Creeping thyme

Cheddar pink and Creeping thyme are often considered for the same spot in the garden (ground cover, flowers, pollinator friendly, container). The data below shows where they differ: size, hardiness, care, toxicity and price.

Cheddar pink

Dianthus gratianopolitanus 20 cm × 45 cm after 10 years

It forms a dense, blue-grey, grassy cushion with clove-scented, mostly pink flowers above it in late spring. It belongs in rock gardens, on walls,…

Ground cover

Full sun

from about CZK 62

Creeping thyme

Thymus praecox 10 cm × 30 cm after 10 years

An evergreen, aromatic mat only a few centimetres tall that is covered in summer with pink, lilac or, depending on the variety, white or reddish…

Ground cover

Full sun

from about CZK 69

Key differences

Cheddar pink grows larger: 20 cm × 45 cm after ten years, against 10 cm × 30 cm for Creeping thyme.
Cheddar pink is cheaper: about CZK 73 at the size usually planted, against about CZK 94 for Creeping thyme.

Which one to choose?

Cheddar pink is the better choice if price matters.

Creeping thyme is the better choice if space is tight.

Watch out for

Cheddar pink

It has no serious pests or diseases. The main danger is crown rot: in heavy, wet soil, especially in damp winters, it dies out quickly, so plant it in loose, gritty, preferably limy soil and do not overwater. The centre of an old cushion can go bare; shear it lightly after flowering or divide it.

Creeping thyme

In wet, heavy, poorly drained soil it dies of root rot, especially in winter. After a few years the middle of the mat can go bare; trimming after flowering or dividing it renews the plant. Weeds grow through easily until the mat has closed up. There are no serious pests, though slugs can occur.

The data side by side

Feature	Cheddar pink	Creeping thyme
Group	Ground cover	Ground cover
Size after 10 years	20 cm × 45 cm	10 cm × 30 cm
Ultimate size	15–30 cm × 30–60 cm	5–15 cm × 10–30 cm
Growth rate	Medium (uncertain)	Medium
Light	Full sun	Full sun
Soil	Average garden soil, Sandy, Calcareous	Average garden soil, Sandy, Calcareous
Hardiness	down to -34 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Heat tolerance	High	High (uncertain)
Foliage	Evergreen (uncertain)	Evergreen
Flowering	May–June, pink, red, white	May–September, pink, purple, white, red (uncertain)
Water need	Low	Low
Drought tolerance	High	High
Maintenance	Low	Low
Planting distance	30 cm	20 cm
For dogs	Mildly toxic	no data
For cats	Mildly toxic	no data
For children	Mildly toxic (uncertain)	Non-toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	approx. CZK 73	approx. CZK 94

Prices are rounded, indicative values. Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor. Data updated: October 17, 2026

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