Woolly Thyme

Woolly Thyme is an exceptional ground-cover herb, prized more for its tactile, silver-grey foliage than its culinary use. This evergreen perennial forms an incredibly flat, dense mat, rarely exceeding 2cm in height. The tiny leaves are covered in fine, soft hairs, giving the plant a fuzzy, felt-like appearance and a distinct silvery hue. It is perfect for planting in the crevices of paving stones, in a rockery, or at the front of a sunny border. While it occasionally produces pale pink flowers in midsummer, they are sparse and the main draw is the carpet of foliage. It is fully hardy (H5) but requires impeccable drainage to survive the UK's damp winters; it will quickly rot in heavy, wet clay. Once established, it is very drought-tolerant and thrives in poor, sandy, or gravelly soils. It emits a faint, pleasant herbal scent when stepped upon or brushed.

Sun: Full sun.

Soil: Very well-drained, poor, gritty soil.

Hardiness: H5 — down to −15°C.

Flowering: Jun, Jul.