Magic Carpet Creeping Thyme is a low-growing cultivar of Thymus serpyllum that spreads into a dense, colorful carpet just 1 to 2 inches tall while reaching 18 inches wide. Hardy in zones 4 through 4, this creeping thyme thrives in full sun with minimal water once established, making it exceptionally drought tolerant. It blooms continuously from summer into fall, attracting pollinators with delicate flowers while resisting deer pressure. The compact, spreading growth habit and minimal maintenance needs make it a striking ground cover or edging plant.
1
Full Sun
Low
4-4
2in H x 18in W
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Moderate
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This cultivar earned its name for the way it transforms garden edges and borders into vibrant, flower-studded tapestries from June through November. The incredibly tight spacing requirement (just 1 inch apart) means young plants knit together quickly to form a unified carpet. At only 1 to 2 inches tall, Magic Carpet stays low enough to frame pathways or tuck between pavers without overwhelming neighboring plantings. The combination of extreme drought tolerance, full sun performance, and persistent blooms makes this thyme exceptionally low-maintenance once roots establish.
Magic Carpet Creeping Thyme excels as a ground cover for sunny borders, rock gardens, and spaces between stepping stones. The trailing growth habit makes it well suited to edging along pathways, cascading from container lips, and filling gaps in dry, rocky terrain where many other plants struggle. While creeping thyme can be brushed lightly for fragrance or used in culinary applications, Magic Carpet's primary value lies in its ornamental and ecological role as a pollinator-friendly, low-maintenance landscape element.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Sow seeds indoors in late winter on the soil surface, pressing them lightly into the medium without covering. Maintain a temperature of 68°F and expect germination within 10 to 30 days. Start seeds indoors to give plants a strong head start before transplanting outdoors after the last frost.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last spring frost when soil has warmed. Space plants just 1 inch apart for rapid carpet formation, though they will spread to fill 18-inch widths as they mature.
Direct sow seeds mid-spring by pressing them lightly into prepared soil in full sun. Keep soil lightly moist until germination occurs within 10 to 30 days.
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