How big does Wild thyme grow?

About 8 cm × 45 cm after ten years (height × width). Its ultimate size is 5–10 cm × 30–45 cm.

What soil does Wild thyme grow in?

It tolerates these soils: sandy, calcareous, average garden soil.

Hardy down to -34 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

Is Wild thyme toxic to children?

No. Reliable sources list it as non-toxic to children.

When does Wild thyme flower?

Flowering: June–September, pink, purple.

How much water does Wild thyme need?

Water need: low. Drought tolerance: high.

How much does Wild thyme cost?

It sells for roughly €3.90 to €4.90 in local shops, depending on size.

Wild thyme

Thymus serpyllum

Wild thyme (Thymus serpyllum) is a ground cover plant that reaches 8 cm × 45 cm after ten years. Light: full sun. Hardy down to -34 °C. Drought tolerance: high. Non-toxic to children. Sold in local shops from about €3.90.

Illustration of Wild thyme — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

A scented subshrub only a few centimetres tall that roots as it creeps into a flat mat and is covered in pink and purple flowers, and bees, in summer. Use it in paving gaps, between stepping stones, on dry banks, in rock gardens and as a lawn substitute in small areas; it puts up with occasional footsteps. It needs full sun and lean, freely draining soil and hardly any watering. Several similar creeping thymes are sold under this name, and some of the cultivars really belong to Thymus praecox.

Watch out for

In damp, heavy, airless soil and standing winter wet it dies out in patches from root rot, and in shade it grows thin and leggy. Spider mites can appear in hot, dry summers. Old mats turn woody and bare in the middle: shear after flowering and divide or replace worn-out plants. In hard winters without snow the foliage can brown, but it resprouts in spring.

Key facts

Light: Full sun
Water need: Low
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 8 cm × 45 cm
Hardiness: down to -34 °C
Foliage: Semi-evergreen
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D June–September, pink, purple

Group	Ground cover
Light	Full sun
Size after 10 years	8 cm × 45 cm
Ultimate size	5–10 cm × 30–45 cm
Hardiness	down to -34 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Sandy, Calcareous, Average garden soil
Foliage	Semi-evergreen
Flowering	June–September, pink, purple
Water need	Low
Drought tolerance	High
Maintenance	Low
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no
Spreading	Medium
Distance from buildings	no data
Distance from paving	no data
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	25 cm
For dogs	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For cats	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For children	Non-toxic
Typical price	from about €3.90

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
size not stated	approx. €3.90 – €4.90

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 8, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Ground cover plants Drought-tolerant plants Drought-tolerant plants for sandy soil Plants that are non-toxic to children Plants for containers Plants for a Mediterranean garden Rock garden plants Fragrant plants

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