Creeping thyme vs Hardy ice plant hybrids

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

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

Hardy ice plant hybrids

Delosperma × hybridum 10 cm × 45 cm after 10 years

A group record for the hardier ice plant hybrids sold under series names (Wheels of Wonder, Jewel of Desert, Sundella, Suntropics) or as single…

Ground cover

Full sun

from about CZK 62

Key differences

Hardy ice plant hybrids spreads wider: 10 cm × 45 cm after ten years, against 10 cm × 30 cm for Creeping thyme (an estimate: sources differ).
Hardy ice plant hybrids grows faster than Creeping thyme.
Creeping thyme is hardier: down to -29 °C, against -23 °C for Hardy ice plant hybrids.
Hardy ice plant hybrids is cheaper: about CZK 69 at the size usually planted, against about CZK 94 for Creeping thyme.

Which one to choose?

Creeping thyme is the better choice if the garden is cold or a frost pocket.

Hardy ice plant hybrids is the better choice if you want quick results or price matters.

Watch out for

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.

Hardy ice plant hybrids

The usual failure is winter loss: in heavy, wet soil the crown rots, under lasting snow cover it smothers, and the hardiness promised on the label is only reached in a dry, gravelly spot. In Central Europe it also suffers in hard frost without snow; a loose covering of leaves can help, but any cover that keeps it wet does harm. Overwatered or in rich soil it grows lax, flowers less and rots more easily. Aphids and mealybugs can turn up but rarely do serious damage.

The data side by side

Feature	Creeping thyme	Hardy ice plant hybrids
Group	Ground cover	Ground cover
Size after 10 years	10 cm × 30 cm	10 cm × 45 cm (uncertain)
Ultimate size	5–15 cm × 10–30 cm	3–15 cm × 30–60 cm (uncertain)
Growth rate	Medium	Fast
Light	Full sun	Full sun
Soil	Average garden soil, Sandy, Calcareous	Sandy, Average garden soil
Hardiness	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)	down to -23 °C (USDA 6, RHS H7)
Heat tolerance	High (uncertain)	High
Foliage	Evergreen	Evergreen (uncertain)
Flowering	May–September, pink, purple, white, red (uncertain)	May–October, pink, purple, red, orange, yellow, white (uncertain)
Water need	Low	Low
Drought tolerance	High	High
Maintenance	Low	Low
Planting distance	20 cm	30 cm
For dogs	no data	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For cats	no data	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For children	Non-toxic (uncertain)	Non-toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	approx. CZK 94	approx. CZK 69

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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