Plant Details

Thymus praecox

Mother of thyme, Creeping thyme, Woolly Thyme

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Common names

32 names · 24 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Creeping thyme
  • Mother of thyme[1]
  • Wild Thyme[1]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Woolly Thyme
Other languages (23)
Dutch
French
  • Serpolet couché[1]
  • Serpolet précoce[1]
  • Thym couché[1]
+2 more namesShow fewer names
  • Thym précoce[1]
  • Thym serpolet
Asturian
  • Ourieganina[1]
Basque
  • Itsas ezkaia[1]
Catalan
  • farigola de muntanya[1]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 早花百里香[1]
Czech
  • mateřídouška časná[1]
Danish
  • Krybende Timian[1]
Faroese
  • skaldabrobber[1]
German
  • Frühblühender Thymian[1]
Hungarian
  • korai kakukkfű[1]
Icelandic
  • Blóðberg[1]
Irish
  • Tím chreige[1]
Italian
  • Timo precoce[1]
Norwegian
  • kryptimian[1]
Polish
  • Macierzanka wczesna[1]
Portuguese
  • Tomilho-rastejante[1]
Russian
  • Тимьян ранний[1]
  • Чабрец ранний[1]
Slovak
  • materina dúška včasná[1]
Slovenian
  • rana materina dušica[1]
Swedish
  • islandstimjan[1]
Turkish
  • Yayla Kekiği[1]
Welsh
  • Teim gwyllt[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Thymus praecox — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Mother of Thyme — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 169752; Thymus praecox.
  • Blóðberg — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 169752; Thymus praecox.
  • Tomilho-rastejante — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 169752; Thymus praecox.
  • Serpolet couché — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 169752; Thymus praecox.
  • Serpolet précoce — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 169752; Thymus praecox.
  • Thym couché — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 169752; Thymus praecox.
  • Thym précoce — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 169752; Thymus praecox.
  • mateřídouška časná — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 169752; Thymus praecox.
  • Wild Thyme — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 169752; Thymus praecox.
  • kryptimian — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 169752; Thymus praecox.
  • Timo precoce — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 169752; Thymus praecox.
  • Frühblühender Thymian — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 169752; Thymus praecox.
  • Kruiptijm — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 169752; Thymus praecox.
  • Krybende Timian — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 169752; Thymus praecox.
  • islandstimjan — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 169752; Thymus praecox.
  • skaldabrobber — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 169752; Thymus praecox.
  • Тимьян ранний — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 169752; Thymus praecox.
  • Ourieganina — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 169752; Thymus praecox.
  • Macierzanka wczesna — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 169752; Thymus praecox.
  • korai kakukkfű — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 169752; Thymus praecox.
  • Tím chreige — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 169752; Thymus praecox.
  • rana materina dušica — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 169752; Thymus praecox.
  • farigola de muntanya — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 169752; Thymus praecox.
  • Teim gwyllt — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 169752; Thymus praecox.
  • materina dúška včasná — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 169752; Thymus praecox.
  • 早花百里香 — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 169752; Thymus praecox.
  • Чабрец ранний — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 169752; Thymus praecox.
  • Itsas ezkaia — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 169752; Thymus praecox.
  • Yayla Kekiği — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 169752; Thymus praecox.

General information

Scientific name: Thymus praecox
Accepted name (Kew): Thymus praecox Opiz View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Lamiaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Thymus (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Mother of thyme, Creeping thyme, Woolly Thyme
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.08–0.15 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 0.08–0.3 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Moderate
Sources [3]
Foliage: Evergreen
Sources [3]
Growth habit: Creeping

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]
Life cycle: Perennial
Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Occasionally Dry

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Sand, Shallow Rocky
Sources [3]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Full sun
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Condiment
Edibility rating:
(2)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
Cosmetic use, Essential oil, Ground cover, Fragrant

Description

The leaves of this plant are used as a flavoring in food. To dry them, it is necessary to harvest the plants in the early or late summer season, just before the flowers open. It is important to dry the leaves quickly after harvesting.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/06
Harvest ends: 31/08

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1109380; name ID 204357; Thymus L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1111962; name ID 205262; Thymus praecox Opiz.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Thymus praecox

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 2689902, ID 7BXDH: Thymus praecox Opiz (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Thymus praecox — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 0 ft. 3 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .