Thymus longicaulis - Thyme

Thymus longicaulis is one of the best groundcover thymes for all regions. Vigorous, robust and very carpeting, it forms a highly fragrant carpet that is particularly dense, with interwoven stems that conform to the contours of the ground. It blooms abundantly from early spring, with small clusters of pink-lilac flowers, covering everything that should be hidden under a frothy and very pink tide at ground level. In the garden, it can be used in rockeries or on stone walls, but also in low-traffic areas to replace the lawn, alone or mixed with other groundcover thymes. Perfectly hardy, this perennial thrives in poor and dry soil, requiring full sun and well-drained soil.

Originally from Southern Europe, especially Italy, theThymus longicaulis is a botanical species belonging to the Lamiaceae family.  Its resistance to drought and cold is commendable. It has a carpeting habit, with its stems rooting upon contact with the ground, allowing it to form a very dense foliage mat, at least 15 cm (6in) high and 50 cm (20in) wide. Its foliage is composed of tiny, oval-elongated, leathery leaves, dark green in colour. When crushed, they release the aroma of thyme and lemon. Flowering occurs from April to June depending on the climate. Tiny tubular and bilabiate pink-lilac flowers, grouped in dense whorls, bloom above the foliage, at the tips of the year's shoots, attracting numerous pollinating insects. Like many Mediterranean plants adapted to drought, thymes develop a dual root system, consisting of a central taproot, which plays a fundamental role by penetrating deep into the soil or rock crevices, and a superficial network of very long rootlets capable of capturing even the slightest surface moisture. This plant releases molecules from its roots that inhibit the germination of other plants through allelopathy, which ultimately reduces the need for weeding.

Thymus longicaulis is decorative all year round and proves hardy in well-drained soil in all regions. Its carpeting habit makes it an ideal plant for elegantly filling the joints of paving stones, cracks and tops of walls, or the edges of a stone staircase, especially since it tolerates moderate foot traffic well. It can be used alone or mixed with other thymes (Thymus ciliatus, Thymus serpyllum 'Lemon Curd', Thymus herba-barona, Thymus hirsutus...), as well as with robust plants like Achillea crithmifolia, Phyla nodiflora, or Trifolium fragiferum. Long-stemmed thyme adorns the ground near a flower bed and is a great alternative to the lawn, even in the dry Mediterranean summer. It will thrive in a sunny rockery, with aubrietas, gold or silver baskets, teucrium, and creeping ceanothus.