Common thyme vs Rock rose

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

Common thyme

Thymus vulgaris 30 cm × 40 cm after 10 years

Common thyme is a low, evergreen, strongly scented subshrub that works as a kitchen herb, a bee plant and an edging for sunny, dry beds all at once.…

Ground cover

Full sun

from about CZK 49

Rock rose

Helianthemum × hybridum 25 cm × 60 cm after 10 years

Hybrid rock roses are low, spreading evergreen subshrubs with grey-green or silvery foliage that cover themselves from late May to midsummer in white,…

Ground cover

Full sun

from about CZK 62

Key differences

Common thyme grows taller, Rock rose spreads wider: 30 cm × 40 cm and 25 cm × 60 cm after ten years.
Common thyme is cheaper: about CZK 49 at the size usually planted, against about CZK 71 for Rock rose.

Which one to choose?

Common thyme is the better choice if price matters.

Watch out for

Common thyme

Most plants are lost to winter wet rather than frost: the roots rot in heavy, damp soil, so on clay plant it only in a raised spot opened up with gravel. In Central Europe the shoots can die back in prolonged hard frost without snow cover (below roughly -15 to -18 °C), especially in damp sites. It is short-lived: after 3 to 5 years it becomes woody and loose, does not reshoot reliably from old wood and needs replacing.

Rock rose

Its worst enemy is winter wet: in poorly drained soil the plant rots easily. In Central Europe hard frost without snow cover can scorch the evergreen foliage, and a cover of conifer branches helps. Without trimming the centre opens up and goes bare. It has hardly any pests or diseases.

The data side by side

Feature	Common thyme	Rock rose
Group	Ground cover	Ground cover
Size after 10 years	30 cm × 40 cm	25 cm × 60 cm
Ultimate size	15–30 cm × 15–40 cm	10–30 cm × 30–90 cm
Growth rate	Medium	Medium (uncertain)
Light	Full sun	Full sun
Soil	Average garden soil, Sandy, Calcareous	Average garden soil, Sandy, Calcareous
Hardiness	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Heat tolerance	High	Medium (uncertain)
Foliage	Evergreen	Evergreen
Flowering	May–July, purple, pink, white	May–July, white, yellow, orange, red, pink
Water need	Low	Low
Drought tolerance	High	High
Maintenance	Low	Low
Planting distance	30 cm	40 cm
For dogs	Non-toxic	no data
For cats	Non-toxic	no data
For children	Non-toxic	no data
Typical price	approx. CZK 49	approx. CZK 71

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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