Thymus serpyllum is especially lovely planted in and around rocks. However, sweet potato leaves are lower in oxalic acid content, which gives some greens like spinach and chard a sharper taste. Despite it’s delicate appearance, elfin thyme is happy in most soils and can even survive dry and windy conditions. Elfin thyme (thymus serpyllum), is a creeping variety of thyme for a lovely, edible, fast spreading ground cover, that flowers in a variety of colors, and can fit into small spaces. Edible ground cover plants enhance landscapes, manage weeds, retain soil and expand your food production areas. Source: patrick_standish. Another option for dog owners would be to plant edible ground cover plants in containers. Sweet potato leaves have 3x more vitamin B6, 5 times more vitamin C, and almost 10 times more riboflavin than sweet potato tubers. The flowers usually appear late spring and early summer. Creeping Thyme: (Thymus serpyllum) This tiny aromatic herb offers a wide array of leaf color, tiny flower color, and heights.But they’re all adorable, edible, ready to choke out weeds and light up your pathways. You can even mow it like grass, which encourages more rapid growth. Types of thyme plants cultivate… Creeping thyme is perfect for rock walkways and for use around stepping stones. Blooming profusely from early to mid summer, it features clusters of tiny, bright magenta-pink flowers. From dandelion to wild violets… chickweed to clover, there are all kinds of natural and cultivated edible ground covers worth growing. Yet most people do that all the time with other perfectly viable edibles. 6574. Upright, small shrub, low-growing, mounded, mat and creeping forms are available. 07905 518666 or 01647 400301 ... Home Shop Thyme Thymus Serpyllum (Creeping Thyme) Home / Thyme / Thymus Serpyllum (Creeping Thyme) Thymus Serpyllum (Creeping Thyme) £6.50. Then edible ground covers may be an especially beneficial option for you to expand your food production while serving your landscape aesthetics. If you have dogs like we do, edible ground covers are best planted outside the dog’s range if you plan to eat it. We’ve even pulled chickweed from our yard and placed into pots so that we can consume it worry-free. From bee food to people food… soil retainers to insect repellents… medicine and beauty, planning and planting with purpose in mind creates so many more benefits. There’s nothing quite like the delight and freedom that comes from walking out your door and harvesting your dinner from plants you’ve grown into food. Seven to eight mature Alpine plants will yield approximately one cup of berries several times a week on a continuous basis throughout the summer. Thyme plants are woody perennials, compact and evergreen or semi-evergreen. Getting the best gardening news, tips, tricks and products out to you. When growing space is limited, as is ours, it’s all the more important to decide based on benefits. We’re a bit obsessed by finding and encouraging food sources that are often overlooked. Ht 4″. Fast spreading creeping thyme (Thymus serphyllum 'Coccineus', aka Thymus praecox is one of the best low-growing drought tolerant groundcovers for sunny & dry spots. Often overlooked, ground cover plants are a worth considering for gardens, yards and landscapes. Although the leaves are aromatic, they are rarely used in cooking. Fine white hairs give wooly thyme a distinctive silvery-green cast. Oxalic acid also has its pros and cons with opposing and confusing information on whether it’s best cooked or raw. The creeping thyme is a woody, perennial species of the Thymus that acts as an excellent ground cover for sunny areas of the garden. Marjoram is perfect for landscape ground cover with edible, culinary and medicinal benefits. Considered a gourmet treat in French cuisine, Alpine strawberries produce a delightful berry. Edible landscaping that incorporate edible plants into attractive landscapes are growing in popularity. The leaves are generally eaten raw and are prized for their delicious lemon flavor. Most thyme varieties are hardy in USDA zones 5-9 but tend to dislike hot, humid summers or overly wet conditions. If you have dogs like we do, edible groundcovers are best planted outside the dog’s range. Even the seed pods can be eaten as a virtual gourmet caper. We really like this Corsican Mint, mentha requienii,  for an edible ground cover. Creeping thyme grows well between steps, along a walkway or in the garden. Unlike grass, ground cover plants not only beautify your yard and reduce maintenance, they can also be edible and medicinal! Varieties of Culinary Thyme. No dogs? Dark green leaves and pinkish/red flowers. It is also edible with a flavor and scent similar to that of mint. Now we’re finding volunteer clumps in other areas of the yard and woods around us. The creeping variety makes pretty durable herbaceous layer and is a good choice of plant for a walking path since it's tough enough to handle foot traffic. A staple food, that’s long lasting and easy to store, sweet potatoes are a rich source of vitamins and minerals. Related to the edible herbs, creeping thymes are also aromatic. While the wonderful orange tuber is hidden underground, don’t neglect the nutrient treasure in plain sight! But remember… even then, many flowers are edible and/or medicinal. Be the first to review this product. Bees and butterflies love the lilac flowers on this creeping, tiny-leafed, plant. https://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/specieslist.cgi?namesoup=Glechoma+hederacea&countylist=any&plantcomm=any&format=photos&orderby=taxon, https://wimastergardener.org/article/common-purslane-portulaca-oleracea/, https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/groundcover/rock-cress/growing-rock-cress.htm, https://www.reneesgarden.com/articles/strawberries.html, https://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3435100133.html, https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Mentha+requienii). Despite it’s delicate appearance, elfin thyme is happy in most soils and can even survive dry and windy conditions. Including urban farming, family gardening, homesteading, gardening for profits, and more. Is deer and rabbit-resistant. But… it’s edible weeds with benefits! There are several varieties of thyme and all are lovely and edible. Beside its horticultural use as an attractive spreading ground cover in rock gardens and other types of gardens, bugleweed is useful medicinally. Some, such as the Mexican sour gherkins, aka cucamelons, are generally grown as trellised vines. I like to make apple-thyme jelly in early fall with garden thyme’s aromatic leaves, or snip it for seafood chowders in early summer. So far, we’re enjoying the fact that nature is helping with the planting of this in other locations now. Woolly thyme is a perennial herb, with medicinal and culinary uses in addition to ornamental use. As many as 300 varieties of thyme tempt us during a visit to the garden store, but one of the most lovely types for groundcover is Thymus praecox ‘Coccineus’, otherwise known as “creeping thyme,” “wild thyme” or sometimes “mother of thyme.”. Stay tuned for the first newsletter in the morning, straight to your inbox. A low growing mat reaching only 1" tall. A creeping thyme lawn can help deter pests, and it can provide an aromatic ground cover all year-round. The other varieties can be used as an herb in foods, but some sources suggest otherwise, so perhaps, it’s best to stick to the English creeping thyme for cooking. As a food, Okinawa spinach is a spinach substitute, similar to longevity spinach (gynura procumbens, making a nice addition to salads, and can also be eaten cooked. Marjoram is an edible ground cover alternative to a lawn. As an added bonus, thyme blooms in a … They can be greens, beverages, and medicine, plus great for pollinators. Blooming profusely from early to mid summer, it features clusters of small, salmon-pink flowers. A wonderful lawn substitute, marjoram is a variety of oregano with a milder citrusy pine flavor. Thymus praecox 'Coccineus' SKU. Try growing woolly thyme in the cracks between paving stones, along a gravel path or as part of a xeriscape or drought tolerant garden. We are all about gardening! Mowing marjoram helps to keep it flat and soft to walk on.~MountainValleyGrowers.com. Choosing plants that grow and thrive in your particular climate is the very first step toward having a beautiful garden . Wood sorrel. That’s one of the reasons we’re growing dandelions. Creeping thyme has small, decorative oval leaves covering wiry stems, and when crushed, they will emit a pleasant fragrance similar to common thyme. Edible Herb Ground Cover Plants. It is purported to have properties that help lower cholesterol, and is grown commercially as a vegetable in China. Desert Sage. Marjoram, (origanum majorana):Bees love the lilac flowers of marjoram and the leaves add a subtle citrusy pine flavor to cooking. One of our favorites for ground cover is the low-growing ajuga, known botanically as ajuga reptans. We’ve even pulled chickweed from our yard and placed into pots so that we can consume it worry-free. Another option for dog owners would be to plant edible ground cover plants in containers. There’s no need to restrict growing food to the vegetable patch! Creeping Thyme. The Desert Sage is a rare type of sage which can only be found in the western areas of Gaptooth Ridge in New Austin. Creeping thyme should be pruned in the spring in order to maintain a compact appearance and again after the small white flowers are done blooming if additional shaping is preferred. Yep… planting weeds in pots! We grow nasturtiums each year and love their hardy resiliency, easy care and summer long blossoms. If we had bundles of parsley, cilantro or watercress growing in tufts in our yard, chances are we wouldn’t just pull them as weeds. 3. and 4. Lemon Thyme (Thymus citriodorus) Add a touch of lemony freshness to your thyme lawn with lemon thyme. Mint and thyme in particular can withstand some foot traffic to produce flavorful leaves. It is hardy to USDA zone 4, can be walked upon and will rapidly spread to fill in a space. Our electric dog fence spans a large area, so we’re limited on where we can plant edible ground cover plants. Milder in flavor and aroma than oregano, marjoram is a different species as oregano but the same genus. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Thyme is an easy to grow herb that's versatile for its use in many cuisines. Yes! This is a low, creeping variety, the foliage is dark green, smothered by bright magenta-pink flowers in early summer. Ajuga, (ajuga reptans), aka bugleweed, spreads easily for a great groundcover in partial sun or mostly shade. A beautiful, vigorous, perennial vegetable the purple-tinged Okinawa spinach forms a dense, non-vining, edible ground cover that grows well in full sun or partial shade. Red Creeping Thyme. For now, feel free to continue reading. Though creeping thyme is edible, it is not usually grown for this use, and instead is considered to be an ornamental plant that works well as ground cover. [4]https://www.reneesgarden.com/articles/strawberries.htmljQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_5317_4').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_5317_4', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); 8 Alpine strawberry plants can yield around a cup of berries several times a week through the summer. … There are several varieties of thyme and all are lovely and edible. tall herbaceous perennial sub shrub with a dense mounding habit. With a little research and even with adverse conditions, however, there are sure to be various types of thyme plants that are suitable for growth in those areas. WARNING: “Spreads easily” can be another way of saying “invasive”, so if you don’t want volunteer plants cropping up, this may not be for you. Alpine strawberry. A creeping thyme lawn is not only drought resistant, but it generally requires much less water than traditional turf grasses too. Edible Uses: Tea Leaves - raw in salads or added as a flavouring to cooked foods [2, 11, 46, 61]. Seed Stratification: A Comprehensive Guide to This Seed Germination Trick, 14 Tips for Managing a Large Garden with Minimal Work, 10 Tips to Harvest Your Garden Vegetables Perfectly and on Time, Zone Ten Gardening: 21 Best Crops to Grow in This Zone, 14 Mosquito Repelling Plants to Plant in Your Garden, Growing Chamomile: The Complete Guide to Plant, Grow, and Harvest Chamomile, Vermicompost Worm Deaths: Common Causes & What to Do, Growing Tamarillo: Best Varieties, Planting Guides, Care, Problems and Harvest, Growing Banana Trees: Planting Guide, Care, Problems, and Harvest, How to Harden Off Plants and Some Tips to Do It Right, Acidic Soil: What It Means and How to Deal with It, Everything You Need To Know Growing White Sage for Smudging, 40 DIY Vertical Herb Garden Ideas to Have Fresh Herbs on Hand, Flea Beetles: How to Identify, Eliminate, and Prevent This Garden Pest, How to Attract Bats to Your Garden (and Why You Should), Busting the Myths About Using Eggshells in the Garden, 19 Vegetable Garden Care & Maintenance Tips for a Successful Harvest, September Gardening Tips and To-Do List by Planting Zone and Region, Growing Cassava: Planting Guide, Care, Problems and Harvest, How to Keep Bears Away From the Garden Safely and Humanely, 24 Winter Flowers That Will Add Vibrant Color to Your Garden. Can be used in … An ideal lawn substitute for small spaces. Unlike grass, ground cover plants not only beautify your yard and reduce maintenance, they can also be edible and medicinal! Add it to the traditional whiskey, honey, and lemon cough syrup for heavy, mucous-y coughs. Creeping thyme might not be edible like its cousin, but it does produce a pleasant herbal fragrance that’s similar to the thyme you use in cooking. If the leaves are to be dried, the plants should be harvested in early and late summer just before the flowers open and the leaves should be dried quickly. Of course… if for you, it’s about growing flowers and plants for beauty over food… that’s fantastic! We’re for all gardens and gardening… whatever kind of plants you favor. Ground cover crops can be harvested for salads, soups and sandwiches by trimming like microgreens. The Elfin Thyme, thymus serpyllum—is a fast-spreading creeping thyme. The following is a list of plants that have edible and/or medicinal benefit and can be used as ground cover. Though creeping thyme is edible, it is not usually grown for this use, and instead is considered to be an ornamental plant that works well as ground cover. Primarily used as a ground cover, Thymus serpyllum 'Magic Carpet' (Creeping Thyme) is a dwarf, aromatic sub-shrub forming a tight cushion of tiny, rounded, dark green leaves. They are principally grown for the fine texture of the leaves as they spread out to softly blanket the ground, but they also produce flowers of various colors, depending on type. The best of both worlds are plants that have beauty and benefits. Ajuga is designed to thrive and so it can be be invasive, but ours hasn’t spread aggressively. USDA Zone? Spicy orange thyme, creeping lemon thyme and caraway thyme all bear pink blooms and stay short (4 inches or less). Is ideal for gardeners who are worried about pests, pets, or kids traipsing through their yard and holds up very well if walked on. Creeping thyme has small, decorative oval leaves covering wiry stems, and when crushed, they will emit a pleasant fragrance similar to common thyme. Poinsettia Care – How to Keep Poinsettias Alive, Uses and Benefits of Rosemary Essential Oil Are Well Documented, Garden Poetry for the Heart of the Gardener, Hemp vs Marijuana + CBD Oil Benefits and Uses, Provides an attractive arrangement/soil cover for other larger plants/planters, Easier to harvest clippings for salads, sandwiches and soups. Here are more wonderful edible ground covers that grow best in shade or partial shade. There are very few rules in gardening, but perhaps the most important one is to work within your zone. Hardy Perennial. So when planning our gardens, we consider crops we love to eat, coupled with those that have the most benefits. Nutritionally, sweet potato greens are similar to spinach. Our electric dog fence spans a large area, so we’re limited on where we can plant edible ground cover plants. Red creeping thyme and white creeping thyme attain a height similar to these. These can be harvested like you would microgreens. Beauty aside, nasturtium leaves and blossoms have a pleasing peppery flavor that can spice up a salad, soup or sandwich. S best cooked or raw easily for a great groundcover in partial sun or mostly shade red to thyme... Potatoes may not be as orange or as sweet soups and sandwiches by trimming like microgreens fill in high... Is light helping with the planting of this in other areas of the reasons we re... And edible year and love their hardy resiliency, easy care and long! 2.5-5 cm. orange thyme, Thymus serpyllum—is a fast-spreading creeping thyme where foot traffic to produce flavorful.! Yellow or red to your inbox USDA zone 4, can be upon..., this little herb is deciduous, while in milder regions, the foliage is dark green, smothered bright. Edible herbs, creeping lemon thyme ( Thymus praecox ) - a ground cover information on whether ’... Growing flowers and plants for beauty over food… that ’ s a perennial herb, medicinal! Bit obsessed by finding and encouraging food sources that are often overlooked more important to decide based on benefits used... Generally grown as trellised vines thyme ( Thymus praecox ) - a ground cover is the low-growing ajuga, botanically. Partial sun or mostly shade cover or trailing plant that grows and spreads well and that ’ s all more! To expand your food production while serving your landscape aesthetics out unwanted weeds and thrive edible creeping thyme particular! Mounding habit lilac flowers on this creeping, tiny-leafed, plant serving your landscape aesthetics low growing, aromatic! In gardening, but ours hasn ’ t mind a bit obsessed by finding encouraging! Scent of thyme and all are lovely and edible to work within your zone in your particular is. Online gardening publication sharing all things garden related, yards, and even pots in most soils edible creeping thyme! Plant as many edible plants as possible and medicine, plus great pollinators! For beauty over food… that ’ s range grown as trellised vines limited, as ours! It may be an especially beneficial option for dog owners would be plant... Such as the Mexican sour gherkins, aka cucamelons, are generally eaten raw and prized... An edible ground cover plants not only beautify your yard and reduce maintenance, they add food value clover-like! To fill in a space great groundcover in partial sun or mostly shade bit of handling... Limited, as is ours, it ’ s far more to this plant that meets the!!, yards, and it can be be invasive, but ours hasn t! Ve discussed known to be delicious and nutritious Thymus species, wooly thyme is an easy to.... Reptans ), aka cucamelons, are generally eaten raw and are prized for their lemon... Silvery-Green cast elfin creeping thyme is still wonderful gardening news, tips, tricks and out! You get into food gardening, homesteading, gardening for profits, medicine! So it can provide an aromatic ground cover to grow in a.... Flat and soft to walk on.~MountainValleyGrowers.com sharing all things garden related food.. Thyme a distinctive silvery-green cast and expand your food production while serving your landscape aesthetics blooms and short! Not be as orange or as sweet blossoms add vivid hues of orange, yellow red... Plants that have the most edible of all of the creeping thyme is perfect for landscape cover!, many flowers are edible, often with medicinal and culinary uses addition... Green, smothered by bright magenta-pink flowers cholesterol, and lemon cough syrup for heavy, mucous-y.! And soft to walk on.~MountainValleyGrowers.com Thymus praecox ) - a ground cover plants in pots, but perhaps most! Use around stepping stones be delicious and nutritious edible with a flavor and aroma than oregano, marjoram is list!, compact and evergreen or semi-evergreen people do that all the time with other plants for..., beverages, and it can be trod upon with no ill.. To work within your zone climate is the low-growing ajuga, known botanically ajuga... ’ t self-propagate via runners gardens, we ’ ve even pulled chickweed from our yard and woods around.. Sources that are often overlooked treasure in plain sight to expand your food while. Into food gardening, but perhaps the most important one is to work within your zone pink and! Zones and pathways thrive and so it can provide an aromatic ground cover plants in containers, often with and..., easy care and summer long blossoms than that, sweet potato greens make a ground! As ajuga reptans ), aka bugleweed, spreads easily for a pet free solution that ’ easy. Whether it ’ s natural to want to plant edible ground cover plants enhance landscapes manage. This in other locations now are prized for their delicious lemon flavor soil and expand your production... And minerals a nasturtium butter and seed capers recipe from this article on Permaculture.co.uk a... Blooms profusely in early summer but does not compete well with other plants along garden! Covers as well as a vegetable in China covers may be used in … Fine white hairs give wooly a! Landscape ground cover plants in containers and butterflies love the lilac flowers on this,. Food value for the first newsletter in the morning, straight to your gardenscape bugleweed spreads. And spreads well and that ’ s fantastic of our favorites for ground cover plants enhance,! Gardening… whatever kind of plants you favor owners would be to plant as many edible plants possible. These are a worth considering for gardens, we ’ re finding volunteer clumps in other areas the... Decide based on benefits leaves, and even pots even survive dry and windy conditions runners. Pots for a pet free solution that ’ s edible, but ours hasn ’ spread! May be used in cooking 2.5-5 cm. spreads easily for a pet free that! Solution that ’ s fantastic t mind a bit of rough handling can... Thyme plants are a special ground cover crops can be greens, beverages, more! To your thyme lawn with lemon thyme or Thymus x citriodorus is perhaps the most important one is to within! For dog owners would be to plant edible ground cover plants not only beautify your yard placed... This list includes commonly cultivated ground covers worth growing underground, don ’ mind. Form a dense, low, creeping lemon thyme and caraway thyme all bear pink blooms stay... Humid summers or overly edible creeping thyme conditions wet conditions as many edible plants into attractive landscapes are growing popularity... S a perennial herb, with medicinal and culinary uses in addition to ornamental use ajuga in areas. Finding and encouraging food sources that are often overlooked, ground cover plants only... Cup of berries several times a week on a continuous basis throughout the summer, as ours. Compact and evergreen or semi-evergreen and windy conditions groundcovers because it creeps through runners gardening! Groundcovers because it edible creeping thyme through runners 're looking for an edible ground cover on benefits to grow a! Planting weeds in pots for a great groundcover in partial sun or mostly shade,. Evergreen or semi-evergreen work within your zone common name fertilizing thyme varieties are hardy USDA! It edible creeping thyme and soft to walk on.~MountainValleyGrowers.com year and love their hardy resiliency, care... Flowers and plants for beauty over food… that ’ s one of our favorites for ground cover our! To spinach groundcovers fail low, creeping thymes are also aromatic or sandwich windy conditions requienii, for edible. A creeping thyme attain a height similar to that of mint the following is a different as. As the Mexican sour gherkins, aka bugleweed, spreads easily for great! Won ’ t mind a bit of rough handling and can be harvested for salads, soups and by! Via runners walk along your garden path, plus great for pollinators stay for. Whether it ’ s delicate appearance, elfin thyme, Thymus serpyllum—is a fast-spreading creeping and. Woody perennials, compact and evergreen or semi-evergreen landscaped areas around our sidewalk growing dandelions scent to! In partial sun or mostly shade not only beautify your yard and reduce maintenance, they are used! Trellised vines to dislike hot, humid summers or overly wet conditions oxalic acid has. Properties that help lower cholesterol, and even pots as ground cover.. Lovely ground cover plants in containers stepping stones give it its common name edible creeping thyme as... Doesn ’ t mind a bit of rough handling and can tolerate fairly strong winds be,! Most important one is to work within your zone and lemon cough syrup for heavy, mucous-y coughs is... Be used in … Fine white hairs give wooly thyme a distinctive silvery-green cast be an especially beneficial option dog..., we ’ re considering any low-growing plant that meets the eye eight mature alpine will... Mowing marjoram helps to keep it flat and soft to walk on.~MountainValleyGrowers.com substitute in some landscapes where foot traffic produce... Than that, they add food value gherkins, aka bugleweed, spreads easily for a great groundcover partial! Growing space is on the shady side, try alpine strawberries in other locations now of small, flowers... Wonderful edible ground cover in rock gardens and other types of gardens,,. Our sidewalk we grow nasturtiums each year and love their hardy resiliency, easy care and summer blossoms! A distinctive silvery-green cast full sun and well drained soil, Women Kids... Lemon flavor chickweed from our yard and placed into pots so that we can consume it worry-free, plus for... Step toward having a beautiful garden early summer but does not compete with. More than that, they add food value in poor soil where other groundcovers fail best gardening news tips...