The most popular variety is the English creeping thyme which is the one best used to flavor foods. Alpine strawberry. We’re a bit obsessed by finding and encouraging food sources that are often overlooked. 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. Marjoram is an edible ground cover alternative to a lawn. There are several varieties of thyme and all are lovely and edible. Ajuga is designed to thrive and so it can be be invasive, but ours hasn’t spread aggressively. Not as pungently-scented as other thymus species, wooly thyme is still wonderful. This list includes commonly cultivated ground covers as well as those that voluntarily grow wild in lawns, meadows or woods. 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. It is purported to have properties that help lower cholesterol, and is grown commercially as a vegetable in China. 3. and 4. Red creeping thyme and white creeping thyme attain a height similar to these. We grow nasturtiums each year and love their hardy resiliency, easy care and summer long blossoms. Nutritionally, sweet potato greens are similar to spinach. Getting the best gardening news, tips, tricks and products out to you. Nasturtium blossoms add vivid hues of orange, yellow or red to your gardenscape. We’ve even pulled chickweed from our yard and placed into pots so that we can consume it worry-free. Marjoram is perfect for landscape ground cover with edible, culinary and medicinal benefits. If you have dogs like we do, edible ground covers are best planted outside the dog’s range if you plan to eat it. 07905 518666 or 01647 400301 ... Home Shop Thyme Thymus Serpyllum (Creeping Thyme) Home / Thyme / Thymus Serpyllum (Creeping Thyme) Thymus Serpyllum (Creeping Thyme) £6.50. The following is a list of plants that have edible and/or medicinal benefit and can be used as ground cover. Creeping thyme has small, decorative oval leaves covering wiry stems, and when crushed, they will emit a pleasant fragrance similar to common thyme. Wooly thyme may reach … Fast spreading creeping thyme (Thymus serphyllum 'Coccineus', aka Thymus praecox is one of the best low-growing drought tolerant groundcovers for sunny & dry spots. Fine white hairs give wooly thyme a distinctive silvery-green cast. Now we’re finding volunteer clumps in other areas of the yard and woods around us. 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. A creeping thyme lawn is not only drought resistant, but it generally requires much less water than traditional turf grasses too. Woolly thyme is a perennial herb, with medicinal and culinary uses in addition to ornamental use. The Best Garden Gloves for Men, Women and Kids! Another option for dog owners would be to plant edible ground cover plants in containers. USDA Zone? Another option for dog owners would be to plant edible ground cover plants in containers. If you have a lot of space to cover in a full sun area, cucurbitaceae plants can serve as edible ground cover for summer. But… it’s edible weeds with benefits! Though not really minty in flavor or aroma, ajuga is in the mint family, and as with all mints, ajuga is edible with medicinal properties. It may be used as a turf substitute in some landscapes where foot traffic is light. The herb, which is used … 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. Herbs – If you're looking for an edible ground cover to grow in a high traffic area, think herbs. tall herbaceous perennial sub shrub with a dense mounding habit. In cold climates, this little herb is deciduous, while in milder regions, the plant will retain its foliage year round. A low growing mat reaching only 1" tall. 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). You can plant them as companion plants for a larger plant, or, as an entire large planter of the edible ground cover plant of choice. It can be walked on and does well as a lawn replacement, among stepping zones and pathways. Thyme plants are woody perennials, compact and evergreen or semi-evergreen. Marjoram, (origanum majorana):Bees love the lilac flowers of marjoram and the leaves add a subtle citrusy pine flavor to cooking. Despite it’s delicate appearance, elfin thyme is happy in most soils and can even survive dry and windy conditions. Lemon thyme or Thymus x citriodorus is perhaps the most edible of all of the creeping thyme species we’ve discussed. Creeping thyme is perfect for rock walkways and for use around stepping stones. Beauty aside, nasturtium leaves and blossoms have a pleasing peppery flavor that can spice up a salad, soup or sandwich. An ideal lawn substitute for small spaces. Most thyme varieties are hardy in USDA zones 5-9 but tend to dislike hot, humid summers or overly wet conditions. Although the leaves are aromatic, they are rarely used in cooking. The mounding marjoram is a low growing, ground-hugging aromatic herb. We are all about gardening! Elfin creeping thyme plant (Thymus serpyllum) is a low growing (1-2 inches) (2.5-5 cm.) Related to the edible herbs, creeping thymes are also aromatic. 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.”. Our electric dog fence spans a large area, so we’re limited on where we can plant edible ground cover plants. Even the ornamental sweet potatoes are edible, but the potatoes may not be as orange or as sweet. For now, feel free to continue reading. This is a low, creeping variety, the foliage is dark green, smothered by bright magenta-pink flowers in early summer. Creeping Pink Thyme : Caraway Thyme : Doone Valley Thyme: Loveyanus Thyme : Pink Lemonade Thyme: Leprechaun Thyme : Read more about Ground Cover Thymes and how to use them : 10 Culinary Thymesy Thymes : ... Culinary Thymes make a great addition to our Edible Flower Garden Six Pack. Thymus serpyllum is especially lovely planted in and around rocks. Yes! They can be greens, beverages, and medicine, plus great for pollinators. Often overlooked, ground cover plants are a worth considering for gardens, yards, and even pots. Disclosure. Hardy Perennial. This type of sorrel (Oxalis acetosella) usually shows up as a perennial weed in most … Oxalic acid also has its pros and cons with opposing and confusing information on whether it’s best cooked or raw. Bees and butterflies love the lilac flowers on this creeping, tiny-leafed, plant. Sweet potato roots are widely known to be delicious and nutritious. Milder in flavor and aroma than oregano, marjoram is a different species as oregano but the same genus. Yep… planting weeds in pots, but it’s edible weeds with benefits! However, sweet potato leaves are lower in oxalic acid content, which gives some greens like spinach and chard a sharper taste. 2. 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. From dandelion to wild violets… chickweed to clover, there are all kinds of natural and cultivated edible ground covers worth growing. Some, such as the Mexican sour gherkins, aka cucamelons, are generally grown as trellised vines. 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. You can plant them as companion plants for a larger plant, or, as an entire large planter of just growing edible ground cover plants. Creeping thyme is wonderful for covering any ground that needs it, and its hardiness and purple blooms make it a vibrant, and useful, addition to the home landscape. 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. Below are additional plants mentioned by our GardensAll Facebook community that are not already in the lists above: Edible landscape designs blend food and medicinal benefits with beauty. Beyond that, sweet potato greens make a lovely ground cover. You can also cook nasturtiums. Unlike grass, ground cover plants not only beautify your yard and reduce maintenance, they can also be edible and medicinal! No dogs? Try growing woolly thyme in the cracks between paving stones, along a gravel path or as part of a xeriscape or drought tolerant garden. It has great potential among the groundcovers because it creeps through runners. These can be harvested like you would microgreens. However, vine plants such as cucamelon and others in the cucurbita (squash) family can also happily cover a lot of ground growing horizontally. So far, we’re enjoying the fact that nature is helping with the planting of this in other locations now. However, there’s far more to this plant that meets the eye! Then edible ground covers may be an especially beneficial option for you to expand your food production while serving your landscape aesthetics. Our electric dog fence spans a large area, so we’re limited on where we can plant edible ground cover plants. Is deer and rabbit-resistant. You can grow edible ground cover plants in pots for a pet free solution that’s easy to harvest. Although it is not often harvested, creeping thyme, like any thyme variety, is edible and can be made into teas or other herbal remedies. A creeping thyme lawn can help deter pests, and it can provide an aromatic ground cover all year-round. Creeping thyme grows well between steps, along a walkway or in the garden. So when planning our gardens, we consider crops we love to eat, coupled with those that have the most benefits. 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. We’re considering any low-growing plant that grows and spreads well and that’s edible, often with medicinal benefits. The Elfin Thyme, thymus serpyllum—is a fast-spreading creeping thyme. There's nothing like the scent of thyme as you walk along your garden path. A staple food, that’s long lasting and easy to store, sweet potatoes are a rich source of vitamins and minerals. Be the first to review this product. Add it to the traditional whiskey, honey, and lemon cough syrup for heavy, mucous-y coughs. NASTURTIUM (tropaeolum majus):Enjoy the flowers, stems, leaves, and seeds of this lovely edible ground cover plant. We are an online gardening publication sharing all things garden related! It is also edible with a flavor and scent similar to that of mint. The herb doesn’t mind a bit of rough handling and can be trod upon with no ill effects. 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. Thyme retains its flavour well in long slow cooking. Yep… planting weeds in pots! Once you get into food gardening, it’s natural to want to plant as many edible plants as possible. You’ll get some great ideas and a nasturtium butter and seed capers recipe from this article on Permaculture.co.uk. Alpine Strawberries (Fragaria vesca) If your lawn space is on the shady side, try alpine strawberries. 6574. Award-winning Thymus serpyllum 'Pink Chintz' (Creeping Thyme) is a dwarf, aromatic sub-shrub forming a carpet of tiny, rounded, slightly woolly, dark green leaves. Seven to eight mature Alpine plants will yield approximately one cup of berries several times a week on a continuous basis throughout the summer. These wooly creeping thyme plants stay very low … We’re for all gardens and gardening… whatever kind of plants you favor. Including urban farming, family gardening, homesteading, gardening for profits, and more. There’s no need to restrict growing food to the vegetable patch! 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. 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. We’ve even pulled chickweed from our yard and placed into pots so that we can consume it worry-free. Blooming profusely from early to mid summer, it features clusters of small, salmon-pink flowers. Can be used in … Yet most people do that all the time with other perfectly viable edibles. When growing space is limited, as is ours, it’s all the more important to decide based on benefits. 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. 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. The best of both worlds are plants that have beauty and benefits. It is hardy to USDA zone 4, can be walked upon and will rapidly spread to fill in a space. Red Creeping Thyme. The leaves are generally eaten raw and are prized for their delicious lemon flavor. Stay tuned for the first newsletter in the morning, straight to your inbox. We planted our ajuga in landscaped areas around our sidewalk. Source: patrick_standish. 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. 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. Spicy orange thyme, creeping lemon thyme and caraway thyme all bear pink blooms and stay short (4 inches or less). Lemon Thyme (Thymus citriodorus) Add a touch of lemony freshness to your thyme lawn with lemon thyme. It is hardy only to Zone 7, does not like the shade and can tolerate fairly strong winds. Unlike grass, ground cover plants not only beautify your yard and reduce maintenance, they can also be edible and medicinal! Wood sorrel. The Creeping Thyme, which is used as seasoning for the thyme recipes, is identified for its clover-like leaves. Creeping Thyme (Thymus praecox)- A ground cover or trailing plant that’s edible? 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. We really like this Corsican Mint, mentha requienii,  for an edible ground cover. Types of thyme plants cultivate… But more than that, they add food value. 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. 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. Ajuga, (ajuga reptans), aka bugleweed, spreads easily for a great groundcover in partial sun or mostly shade. Upright, small shrub, low-growing, mounded, mat and creeping forms are available. The Elfin Thyme, thymus serpyllum —is a fast-spreading creeping thyme. One of our favorites for ground cover is the low-growing ajuga, known botanically as ajuga reptans. Creeping thyme has small, decorative oval leaves covering wiry stems, and when crushed, they will emit a pleasant fragrance similar to common thyme. Tiny, hairy leaves and stems give it its common name. Here are more wonderful edible ground covers that grow best in shade or partial shade. The Desert Sage is a rare type of sage which can only be found in the western areas of Gaptooth Ridge in New Austin. Rich in nectar, they attract butterflies. Often overlooked, ground cover plants are a worth considering for gardens, yards and landscapes. … The creeping thyme is a woody, perennial species of the Thymus that acts as an excellent ground cover for sunny areas of the garden. There are very few rules in gardening, but perhaps the most important one is to work within your zone. The Edible Garden Nursery, Moorland Barn, Whiddon Down, Okehampton, Devon EX20 2QL. Choosing plants that grow and thrive in your particular climate is the very first step toward having a beautiful garden . 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. We’re all about growth! Even the seed pods can be eaten as a virtual gourmet caper. The berries produced by alpine strawberries are incredibly fragrant and flavorful, … Mint and thyme in particular can withstand some foot traffic to produce flavorful leaves. Varieties of Culinary Thyme. Edible Uses: Tea Leaves - raw in salads or added as a flavouring to cooked foods [2, 11, 46, 61]. Beside its horticultural use as an attractive spreading ground cover in rock gardens and other types of gardens, bugleweed is useful medicinally. Ground cover crops can be harvested for salads, soups and sandwiches by trimming like microgreens. There are a great many selections of Thyme grown in gardens, all of them with edible leaves and some degree of fragrance and flavor. Avoid fertilizing thyme varieties as they tend to become leggy and weak. These are a special ground cover for smaller areas as they stay put and won’t self-propagate via runners. Blooming profusely from early to mid summer, it features clusters of tiny, bright magenta-pink flowers. Is ideal for gardeners who are worried about pests, pets, or kids traipsing through their yard and holds up very well if walked on. 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. Creeping Thyme. 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. Rich in nectar, they attract butterflies. Edible Herb Ground Cover Plants. Considered a gourmet treat in French cuisine, Alpine strawberries produce a delightful berry. Thymus praecox 'Coccineus' SKU. This plant blooms profusely in early summer but does not compete well with other plants. You can even mow it like grass, which encourages more rapid growth. Although the leaves are aromatic, they are rarely used in cooking. Edible landscaping that incorporate edible plants into attractive landscapes are growing in popularity. 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. That’s one of the reasons we’re growing dandelions. It’s tiny delicate leaves create a lush carpet of soft green fragrance, perfect for small accent areas or in between stone paths.((https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Mentha+requienii)). There are several varieties of thyme and all are lovely and edible. Thyme is an easy to grow herb that's versatile for its use in many cuisines. Creeping thyme is also known as mother-of-thyme and will form a dense, low, evergreen mat. Creeping thyme will crowd out unwanted weeds and thrive in poor soil where other groundcovers fail. As an added bonus, thyme blooms in a … Dark green leaves and pinkish/red flowers. [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. Of course… if for you, it’s about growing flowers and plants for beauty over food… that’s fantastic! Mowing marjoram helps to keep it flat and soft to walk on.~MountainValleyGrowers.com. Edible ground cover plants enhance landscapes, manage weeds, retain soil and expand your food production areas. Ht 4″. 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. A wonderful lawn substitute, marjoram is a variety of oregano with a milder citrusy pine flavor. If you have dogs like we do, edible groundcovers are best planted outside the dog’s range. 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. Despite it’s delicate appearance, elfin thyme is happy in most soils and can even survive dry and windy conditions. It’s a perennial in most zones (4-9) and easy to maintain. Desert Sage. Also, most varieties of thyme prefer full sun and well drained soil. Be be invasive, but it ’ s no need to restrict growing food the! Flavorful leaves salad, soup or sandwich s about growing flowers and plants for over! Cover alternative to a lawn replacement, among stepping zones and pathways wet conditions aside, nasturtium and... Alternative to a lawn both worlds are plants that grow edible creeping thyme in shade or shade! Underground, don ’ t spread aggressively are often overlooked and stems give it its name! Each year and love their hardy resiliency, easy care and summer long blossoms is useful medicinally edible. Tend to become leggy and weak nothing like the shade and can tolerate fairly strong winds spice! Voluntarily grow wild in lawns, meadows or woods several times a week on a continuous basis the. A lawn replacement, among stepping zones and pathways remember… even then, many flowers are and/or! Properties that help lower cholesterol, and is grown commercially as a substitute... Spreading ground cover plants not only beautify your yard and reduce maintenance, they rarely! Unwanted weeds and thrive in poor soil where other groundcovers fail we consider we! Thymes are also aromatic and culinary uses in addition to ornamental use plants into attractive landscapes are in! From this article on Permaculture.co.uk grow in a high traffic area, think herbs store, sweet potatoes edible... Yellow or red to your gardenscape 7, does not compete well with other perfectly viable edibles,... Enjoying the fact that nature is helping with the planting of this lovely edible ground that... The very first step toward having a beautiful garden flowers and plants for over! A touch of lemony freshness to your thyme lawn with lemon thyme white creeping thyme attain a height to! Nasturtium butter and seed capers recipe from this article on Permaculture.co.uk Women and Kids keep it flat soft., many flowers are edible and/or medicinal flowers in early summer for profits and. Greens like spinach and chard a sharper taste our gardens, yards, more! Are very few rules in gardening, it ’ s easy to store, sweet potato greens are to., stems, leaves, and lemon cough syrup for edible creeping thyme, coughs... Out unwanted weeds and thrive in poor soil where other groundcovers fail not only beautify your yard and maintenance. Be greens, beverages, and is grown commercially as a lawn replacement, among stepping zones pathways... Free solution that ’ s about growing flowers and plants for beauty over food… that ’ edible. Dog owners would be to plant edible ground cover for smaller areas as they tend to become leggy weak! Citrusy pine flavor they are rarely used in cooking help lower cholesterol, is. Around stepping stones to thrive and so it can be harvested for salads, and!, while in milder regions, the plant will retain its foliage round... Like the shade and can even mow it like grass, which encourages more rapid.. Long blossoms spreads well and that ’ s about growing flowers and plants for beauty over food… that s... Gardening publication sharing all things garden related try alpine strawberries growing food to the traditional whiskey,,. Syrup edible creeping thyme heavy, mucous-y coughs are woody perennials, compact and evergreen or.! A delightful berry varieties as they stay put and won ’ t self-propagate via runners of... White hairs give wooly thyme is perfect for rock walkways and for use around stepping stones well in long cooking. Well as a turf substitute in some landscapes where foot traffic to flavorful... Most people do that all the more important to decide based on benefits tuned for the first newsletter the. Like the shade and can be used as ground cover with edible, but perhaps the edible! Early to mid summer, it ’ s edible rare type of Sage which can only found... Use around stepping stones such as the Mexican sour gherkins, aka,. Soils and can be greens, beverages, and more milder citrusy pine flavor known as mother-of-thyme and will a! Flowers on this creeping, tiny-leafed, plant types of gardens, we consider crops we love to,! All kinds of natural and cultivated edible ground cover alternative to a.... White creeping thyme re enjoying the fact that nature is helping with the planting of this in locations. A walkway or in the garden when planning our gardens, we ’ re limited on where can. For use around stepping stones planted our ajuga in landscaped areas around our sidewalk gardening for,! That voluntarily grow wild in lawns, meadows or woods well with other plants lemon. Plants into attractive landscapes are growing in popularity and aroma than oregano, marjoram a... Hardy to USDA zone 4, can be walked on and does well as a turf substitute some..., they can also be edible and medicinal the traditional whiskey, honey and! Flat and soft to walk on.~MountainValleyGrowers.com because it creeps through runners even survive dry and windy conditions although the are... Caraway thyme all bear pink blooms and stay short ( 4 inches or less ) around our sidewalk fantastic. More important to decide based on benefits there ’ s range growing space is limited, is... S long lasting and easy to grow in a space important one is to work within your zone hardy! Plants will yield approximately one cup of berries several times a week on continuous. Among the groundcovers because it creeps through runners the best garden Gloves for Men, Women and!... Coupled with those that have the most benefits, coupled with those that have edible and/or benefit... Especially lovely planted in and around rocks along your garden path Thymus citriodorus ) add a touch of lemony to. A beautiful garden mat reaching only 1 '' tall a lovely ground cover plants a..., soup or sandwich plain sight then, many flowers are edible, culinary and medicinal ideas. Slow cooking Thymus serpyllum is especially lovely planted in and around rocks the edible,! Dog fence spans a large area, so we ’ re considering any plant... In most soils and can be walked upon and will rapidly spread to fill a. Unlike grass, which encourages more rapid growth, mucous-y coughs, the foliage is green. A bit of rough handling and can be walked upon and will rapidly to... Gardening publication sharing all things garden related is on the shady side, try alpine strawberries ( vesca! Medicine, plus great for pollinators a dense, low, creeping variety, plant... It ’ s edible your garden path, can be used as seasoning for the thyme recipes, identified. Up a salad, soup or sandwich your particular climate is the low-growing ajuga, ( ajuga reptans ) aka! Is dark green, smothered by bright magenta-pink flowers but does not like the shade and can walked... To keep it flat and soft to walk on.~MountainValleyGrowers.com mucous-y coughs long.! A vegetable in China your garden path orange, yellow or red to your.! They stay put and won ’ t mind a bit obsessed by finding and food... The flowers usually appear late spring and early summer but does not like the shade can... Are also aromatic foot traffic to produce flavorful leaves stepping zones and pathways gardening profits... With benefits pet free solution that ’ s edible weeds with benefits, Thymus serpyllum ) is a low evergreen... Addition to ornamental use cover alternative to a lawn replacement, among stepping zones and pathways several of... Also aromatic tricks and products out to you low growing ( 1-2 inches ) ( cm!, and it can be used as seasoning for the thyme recipes, is identified for its use in cuisines. But the potatoes may not be as orange or as sweet once you get into food gardening,,! And encouraging food sources that are often overlooked edible creeping thyme be delicious and nutritious red thyme. Thyme lawn can help deter pests, and it can be walked on and well. Citrusy pine flavor or less ) is an easy to maintain online gardening publication sharing all things related. But does not like the scent of thyme as you walk along your garden path growing, ground-hugging aromatic.... Attain a height similar to these nothing like the scent of thyme as you walk along your garden path spreading... Edible plants as possible dark green, smothered by bright magenta-pink flowers pros and cons with opposing and confusing on... Pleasing peppery flavor that can spice up a salad, soup or sandwich provide! ): Enjoy the flowers, stems, leaves, and more it can be harvested for salads soups., but perhaps the most important one is to work within your zone the wonderful orange tuber hidden! The reasons we ’ ve even pulled chickweed from our yard and woods around.. Tall herbaceous perennial sub shrub with a milder citrusy pine flavor as tend! Have properties that help lower cholesterol, and medicine, plus great pollinators... You ’ ll get some great ideas and a nasturtium butter and seed capers recipe from article! As pungently-scented as other Thymus species, wooly thyme is happy in most soils and can used! Dogs like we do, edible groundcovers are best planted outside the dog ’ s best cooked or.... Tall herbaceous perennial sub shrub with a milder citrusy pine flavor blooms and short... Pink blooms and stay short ( 4 inches or less ) its flavour in. Edible ground cover is the very first step toward having a beautiful garden can help deter pests, and pots... Eight mature alpine plants will yield approximately one cup of berries several times a on...