Thymus 'Wooly Thyme'

Thymus pseudolanuginosus 'Woolly Thyme' – A Soft, Textural Groundcover

Embrace the soft and tactile allure of Thymus pseudolanuginosus, commonly known as Woolly Thyme. This unique variety of thyme is treasured for its dense, wool-like foliage, making it a favorite choice for ground covers in rock gardens, between stepping stones, or cascading over walls. Its low-growing, sprawling habit and soft, fuzzy leaves offer a delightful sensory experience in any garden setting.

Product Characteristics:

• Height: Typically grows to about 5-10 cm in height, creating a plush, low-lying mat.
• Spread: Spreads out to approximately 30-60 cm, forming a dense ground cover that helps suppress weeds and stabilize the soil.
• Leaf Colour: Features tiny, gray-green leaves that are covered in a fine, woolly down, giving the plant a soft, silvery appearance.
• Flowering Period: Produces delicate, pale pink to lavender flowers in mid to late summer, providing a subtle contrast against the silvery foliage.
• Foliage: The evergreen leaves maintain their color and texture throughout the year, offering consistent coverage and interest.
• Sunlight Requirements: Prefers full sun to partial shade, with the best silver leaf coloration and flowering occurring in full sun.
• Soil Requirements: Thrives in well-drained, poor to moderately fertile soil. Tolerates drought once established, making it ideal for xeric or rock gardens.

Uses and Benefits: Woolly Thyme is an excellent selection for adding texture and ground coverage in challenging spaces. Its tolerance for light foot traffic makes it a practical choice for paths and patios, where it releases a mild fragrance when stepped on. It's also well-suited for growing in crevices of rock walls or along garden edges, where its mat-forming habit can help control erosion. Additionally, its drought resistance makes it suitable for water-wise gardens.

Companion Plants: Combine Woolly Thyme with other drought-resistant plants for a robust, low-maintenance garden:

• Sedum (Stonecrop): Offers a variety of colors and textures that complement the understated elegance of Woolly Thyme.
• Lavender: Its upright growth habit and vibrant blooms provide a striking visual contrast to the ground-hugging thyme.
• Santolina: With its bright green or gray foliage and yellow flowers, Santolina enhances the visual appeal of the silvery thyme.

Care Instructions: Plant Woolly Thyme in a location that receives adequate sunlight. While it tolerates partial shade, full sun encourages the most vigorous growth and best flowering. Ensure the soil is well-drained to prevent root rot, particularly in cooler, wetter climates. Water regularly during the first growing season to establish a strong root system. Once established, Woolly Thyme is drought tolerant and requires minimal watering. Pruning is not typically necessary, but trimming back after flowering can help maintain its compact form and encourage denser growth.

History: Thymus pseudolanuginosus originates from Europe and is part of the extensive Thymus genus, known for its culinary and ornamental uses. 'Woolly Thyme' is specifically valued for its decorative appearance and texture, making it a popular choice in thematic and sensory gardens.

Final Thoughts: Thymus pseudolanuginosus 'Woolly Thyme' is more than just a ground cover; it's a garden feature that adds a layer of texture and softness rarely found in other plants. With its plush foliage and subtle blooms, Woolly Thyme creates a visually interesting and tactile element in the garden, perfect for those seeking to enhance their landscape with unique and practical plants.