Elfin Creeping Thyme

Thymus serpyllum 'Elfin'

Nature Hills Nursery

$29⁴⁵

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Planting & Care

Where to Plant

Sunlight: Plant in a spot that gets at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. While it can survive in partial shade, it will grow leggier and produce far fewer of those charming pink blooms.
Soil: This plant craves excellent drainage and actually prefers "lean," gritty soil over rich loam. If you have heavy clay, you must amend it with coarse sand or pea gravel to prevent root rot, or consider planting it in a raised bed or container where you can control the drainage.

Watering Requirements

During the first season, water consistently to keep the soil slightly moist (but never soggy) while the shallow roots establish. Once mature, Elfin Creeping Thyme is highly drought-tolerant and prefers to dry out completely between waterings; inconsistent watering isn't a major issue, but constantly wet "feet" will quickly kill it.

Pruning Tips

Think of pruning this thyme like giving it a light haircut rather than a deep chop. After the purple-pink flowers fade in summer, lightly shear the foliage to tidy up the mat and encourage fresh, dense green growth. Avoid cutting down into the thick, woody stems near the base, as these "old wood" sections often struggle to regenerate new growth.

Fertilizer Needs

Elfin Creeping Thyme is a light feeder and generally thrives without any extra help. If your soil is extremely poor, you can apply a weak, diluted liquid fertilizer once in early spring, but avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers late in the season; they force soft, weak growth that is easily damaged by winter frost and reduces the plant's signature fragrance.

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Preorder Shipping Schedule

We ship your plants when it's safe to transport them to your zone. Dates are estimated and subject to weather delays.

Zone 3-4	Week of March 30th
Zone 5	Week of March 16th
Zone 6	Week of March 2nd
Zone 7-12	Week of February 23rd

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Elfin Creeping Thyme - Tiny Groundcover - Big Charm

A carpet of pink, Elfin Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum 'Elfin') is one of Mother Nature's most delightful miniature plants. This tiny, aromatic groundcover is beloved for its dense, mat-forming growth, tiny evergreen leaves, and soft pinkish-lavender summer blooms that invite pollinators!

Elfin blooms in early to mid-summer and releases a pleasant, earthy herbal scent when stepped on or brushed! Low-growing and slow-spreading, Elfin is a dwarf variety of Creeping Thyme, perfect for rock gardens, fairy gardens, patio cracks, or in between stepping stones!

True to its name, Elfin hugs the ground at less than 2-3 inches tall, spreading up to a foot or more over time. The teeny-tiny leaves are dark green and evergreen in mild climates, offering year-round visual appeal. The summer flowers are small but profuse, forming a pinkish carpet that softens the landscape and attracts bees and butterflies in droves. It rarely sets seed, focusing its energy on dense, tidy growth instead of invasive spreading.

Key Features

Dwarf, low-growing mat-forming perennial
Aromatic foliage releases scent when touched
Pinkish-lavender flowers bloom in early to midsummer
Evergreen in areas with mild winters
Supports pollinators like bees and butterflies
Drought-tolerant and deer-resistant
Ideal for footpaths, rock gardens, and fairy gardens!

Landscaping Uses

Use Elfin Creeping Thyme as a dense, fragrant, ground-hugging living mulch reaching 2-3 inches tall and spreading 12-18 inches wide.

Native to Europe and Western Asia, Elfin Creeping Thyme belongs to the Mint family (Lamiaceae), and like many of its cousins, it's hardy, drought-tolerant, and fragrant! This herbaceous perennial is a stalwart in xeriscaping and dry Mediterranean-style gardens!

Between stepping stones and pavers - Handles foot traffic!
Fairy gardens or miniature landscapes
Container edging, spillers, or window boxes
Rock walls and alpine garden pockets
Xeriscapes, Rock Gardens, and herb spirals
Lawn alternative for low-traffic areas
Cascading over stone walls or raised beds

Care and Maintenance

It symbolizes courage and purification, often used in old-world folklore to ward off evil. Hardy in USDA zones 4 through 8, it's adapted to both heat and cold, handles some foot traffic, and thrives in lean, well-drained soil. This herbaceous perennial thrives with little fuss and is tough as nails in the right spot. It laughs at drought, loves full sun, and handles rocky or sandy soils with ease.

Planting Time: Spring or early fall
Sun Needs: Full sun is best for the most compact growth (6+ hours daily)
Soil Needs: Well-drained soil; thrives in rocky, sandy, or poor soils; avoid clay or compacted soil unless amended
Moisture Needs: Low moisture needs and drought-tolerant once established! Avoid overwatering or soggy soils
Arborist Mulch: A 3?4 inch layer of fine bark mulch helps retain moisture and block weeds; compost is not necessary but may help in poor soils
Fertilization Needs: Rarely needed; too much fertility reduces aromatic oils
Pruning Info: Light shear after flowering to tidy up; no major pruning is needed
Special Needs/Perks:

Deer and rabbit-resistant
Pollinator-friendly
Tolerates foot traffic
Cold hardy and heat tolerant
Low maintenance and self-sufficient once established

Division Info: Not necessary but can be divided in spring or fall to propagate or rejuvenate older plants

Small Plant, Mighty Impact

Whether you're weaving charm through stepping stones or conjuring fairy-tale pathways, Elfin Creeping Thyme is the answer. This pint-sized powerhouse is fragrant, tough, and pollinator-friendly. A low-maintenance dream for the landscape artist and herb gardener alike.

Buy now and Nature Hills will ship at the appropriate planting time for your growing zone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Elfin Creeping Thyme a good groundcover for walkways?
Yes, it handles light foot traffic and releases a lovely scent when stepped on. Ideal between stepping stones or pavers.

Does Elfin Creeping Thyme stay green year-round?
In zones 7?9, Creeping Thyme is evergreen. In colder zones, it may go semi-dormant but will return in spring.

How fast does Elfin Creeping Thyme spread?
It spreads slowly, making it ideal for controlled spaces. Expect a foot of spread over 2?3 seasons.

Can I grow Elfin Creeping Thyme in containers?
Absolutely! It's a wonderful spiller in shallow pots, window boxes, troughs, and fairy gardens.

Does Elfin Creeping Thyme attract pollinators?
Yes, its summer blooms attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.

What's the difference between Elfin and regular Creeping Thyme?
Elfin is a dwarf cultivar with smaller leaves and tighter growth. It's denser and slower-spreading than typical Thymus serpyllum.

Is Elfin Creeping Thyme edible?
Technically yes, but it's not typically grown for culinary use?it's best used as an ornamental.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Elfin Creeping Thyme and how is it different from other thymes?

Elfin Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum 'Elfin') is a top-performing, miniature perennial groundcover. It's prized for its incredibly low, dense, mat-forming habit, creating a tight, moss-like carpet of tiny, fragrant green leaves. In early summer, it bursts into a sea of tiny lavender-pink flowers. Unlike 'Mother of Thyme' or other broader creeping thyme varieties, 'Elfin' is exceptionally compact and slow-spreading. Its fine, delicate texture makes it one of the lowest-growing thymes available, typically staying under 1-2 inches tall.

Can you walk on Elfin Creeping Thyme? Where is the best place to plant it?

Absolutely! Elfin Creeping Thyme is one of the best groundcovers for planting between stepping stones, along walkways, or in the cracks of a patio. It is tolerant of light foot traffic, and as you walk on it, the leaves release a delightful, earthy thyme fragrance. Its tough, low-growing nature also makes it a perfect choice for rock gardens, spilling over retaining walls, as a "living mulch" in container gardens, and in fairy gardens.

What are the planting and care requirements for Elfin Creeping Thyme?

Elfin Creeping Thyme is wonderfully low-maintenance once established. The two most important things it needs are full sun and excellent drainage. Plant in full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight per day) as it will not thrive in shade. It demands excellent drainage; sandy, gritty, or rocky soils are ideal, and it will not tolerate "wet feet" or heavy, soggy clay soil. Water regularly during its first growing season to help it establish a strong root system, but after that, it is highly drought-tolerant. You will only need to water it during extended periods of extreme heat or drought. To create a solid mat, space your new Elfin Creeping Thyme plants about 12 to 16 inches apart. No fertilizer is needed, as this plant thrives in "lean" soil.

Is Elfin Creeping Thyme deer and rabbit resistant?

Yes, it is! Thanks to its highly aromatic foliage, Elfin Creeping Thyme is considered highly deer-resistant and rabbit-resistant. These animals strongly dislike the strong, herbal scent and will typically leave it alone, making it an excellent, worry-free groundcover for landscapes with wildlife pressure.

Does Elfin Creeping Thyme attract pollinators like bees?

Yes, it's a pollinator powerhouse. When Elfin Creeping Thyme blooms in early to mid-summer, its dense mat of lavender-pink flowers becomes a magnet for honeybees, bumblebees, and other beneficial insects. Planting it is a fantastic way to support your local pollinator population while enjoying a beautiful, fragrant groundcover.

How fast does Elfin Creeping Thyme spread?

Elfin Thyme is a slow-growing groundcover, which is a key part of its appeal. It forms a very tight, dense mat rather than spreading aggressively like some other groundcovers. This slow, steady growth means it stays neat, won't take over its neighbors, and requires very little maintenance to keep in bounds.

Is Elfin Creeping Thyme evergreen?

In warmer climates (approximately Zones 7-9), Elfin Creeping Thyme is a reliable evergreen groundcover, holding its tiny green leaves all winter. In colder climates (Zones 4-6), it is considered semi-evergreen. It may lose some foliage or take on a bronze-purple tint after heavy frosts, but the stems remain, and it will flush out with fresh new growth each spring.

Elfin Creeping Thyme