Can creeping thyme be used in cooking?

Use culinary thyme fresh or dried, as a garnish and to flavor vinegars, herbed butters, teas, meat dishes, salads and soups. Some thyme plants make good groundcovers, and you can walk on creeping thyme, but you may not want to use plants grown in a pathway for cooking.

Does creeping thyme attract bugs?

Creeping thyme is a vining plant that creates an excellent ground cover for rock and herb gardens. Even though they have different appearances all three can be used as culinary or medicinal herbs. It attracts beneficial insects.

Is creeping thyme a good ground cover?

The common name “creeping thyme” can refer to one of several woody-stemmed perennial species of the Thymus genus that are good ground covers for sunny areas. While not all types are grown as herbs, they are in the mint family and have a pleasant scent; most can be used for cooking.

Is creeping thyme safe for dogs?

“The creeping thyme does well as a dog-friendly ground cover. Irish Moss, Labrador Violet, Miniature Stonecrop (although invasive, so be careful where you plant it) as well as snow in summer are rather dog-abuse-tolerant and are non-toxic.”

What is creeping thyme good for?

They function as a living mulch by shading the soil, suppressing weeds, and conserving water. All of this helps to build topsoil and prevent erosion. With so many options to choose from, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed when selecting a ground cover. Cue creeping thyme!

What can you use creeping thyme for?

Creeping thyme, also known commonly as ‘Mother of Thyme,’ is an easily grown, spreading thyme variety. It is excellent planted as a lawn substitute or among stepping stones or pavers to create a living patio.

Does creeping thyme attract wasps?

However, naturally-repellent plants do exist and include mint, wormwood, lemongrass, citronella, clove, pennyroyal, sage, rosemary, geranium, chamomile, thyme, fennel, wintergreen, and sweet marjoram. We will also cover plants that are advertised to repel wasps but don’t, including eucalyptus, basil, and marigolds.

What does creeping thyme repel?

Thyme. Thyme, including red creeping thyme (shown), possesses excellent mosquito-repelling properties. The secret is to crush the leaves to release the volatile oils. You can simply place crushed stems around outdoor seating areas or rub the leaves on skin or clothing.

Can you walk on creeping thyme?

Thyme Alternative to Grass A creeping thyme lawn is not only drought resistant, but it generally requires much less water than traditional turf grasses too. It is hardy to USDA zone 4, can be walked upon, and will rapidly spread to fill in a space. Most varieties of thyme are tolerant of light foot traffic.

Will creeping thyme choke out other plants?

Once established, ground covers control soil erosion and form an attractive foliage blanket across your yard. These low-lying plants do not choke out other species, but they can hinder their growth with proper maintenance, especially during establishment.

Is thyme toxic to animals?

ANSWER: True Thyme (Thymus serpyllum) is not at native plant and it is not on the ASPCA plants toxic to cats list.

Is creeping thyme the same as thyme?

The basic difference between them is that some are grown for culinary use and others are used primarily in landscaping. Both types are edible, but creeping thymes are usually small and tedious to harvest and are therefore more valuable as ground covers.

Can creeping thyme be used as a ground cover?

“Purple Carpet” creeping thyme is a beautiful, colorful alternative to grass. photo by Megan Machucho If you are looking to add some color and depth to your garden or lawn, you can achieve that with a ground cover plant. Ground covers are low-growing, low-maintenance, and sometimes tolerate being walked on.

What is the difference between caraway and lavender thyme?

Caraway Thyme is the only culinary Ground Cover Thyme in the bunch. Lavender Thyme will spread like a ground cover but it does get taller and is more suitable for areas that need cover but don’t get walked on too much.

Can you grow Thyme in a rock garden?

Cracks and crevices provide ideal growing conditions for thyme. Here, a creeping thyme softens a stone walk. You can also tuck thyme into stone walls and in rock gardens. For the past 20 years, I have grown many thymes at my Pennsylvania herb farm, and I add new ones every season.

What can I plant under Caraway thyme?

Under caraway thyme ( Thymus herba-barona ‘Minus’ and ‘Longwood’), I plant summer-flowering bulbs like alliums, lilies, and spider lilies, which grow happily without being smothered by the thymes. Thymes are always at home in rock gardens, walls, and on rocky slopes.