Pollinator plant

Mother of thyme

Thymus praecox

Linked agroforestry plant data
Pollinator recipe
Sign in to use recipes

Common names

33 names · 24 languages
EnglishYour language
+2 more namesShow fewer names
  • Wild Thyme[1][2]
  • Woolly Thyme
Other languages (23)
Dutch
French
+2 more namesShow fewer names
  • Thym précoce[1][2]
  • Thym serpolet
Asturian
  • Ourieganina[2]
Basque
  • Itsas ezkaia[2]
Catalan
  • farigola de muntanya[2]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 早花百里香[2]
Czech
  • mateřídouška časná[2]
Danish
  • Krybende Timian[2]
Faroese
  • skaldabrobber[2]
German
  • Frühblühender Thymian[1][2]
Hungarian
  • korai kakukkfű[2]
Icelandic
  • Blóðberg[2]
Irish
  • Tím chreige[2]
Italian
Norwegian
  • kryptimian[2]
Polish
  • Macierzanka wczesna[2]
Portuguese
Russian
  • Тимьян ранний[2]
  • Чабрец ранний[2]
Slovak
  • materina dúška včasná[2]
Slovenian
  • rana materina dušica[2]
Swedish
  • islandstimjan[2]
Turkish
  • Yayla Kekiği[2]
Welsh
  • Teim gwyllt[2]
Sources & name notes (3)

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. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Mother of Thyme — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 169752; Thymus praecox.
  • Kruiptijm — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 169752; Thymus praecox.
  • Frühblühender Thymian — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 169752; Thymus praecox.
  • Wild Thyme — results[0].names[9]; 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.
  • Timo precoce — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 169752; Thymus praecox.
  • Tomilho-rastejante — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 169752; Thymus praecox.
[2] 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.
  • Kruiptijm — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 169752; Thymus praecox.
  • Frühblühender Thymian — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 169752; Thymus praecox.
  • Wild Thyme — results[0].names[9]; 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.
  • Timo precoce — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 169752; Thymus praecox.
  • Tomilho-rastejante — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 169752; Thymus praecox.
  • Blóðberg — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 169752; Thymus praecox.
  • mateřídouška časná — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 169752; Thymus praecox.
  • kryptimian — results[0].names[10]; 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.
[3] Thymus praecox — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Creeping Thyme — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Thymus praecox.
  • Early Thyme — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Thymus praecox.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Thymus praecox is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Lamiaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
0.08–0.15 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
0.08–0.3 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Creeping

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Perennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Medium

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Occasionally Dry

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Sand; Shallow Rocky

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Native range
Greenland, Europe to Turkey

NC State Extension profile. Origin reported by the source; this is not a claim of local nativeness.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: bees, butterflies, pollinators.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Pollinator guidance
RHS includes Thymus species in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.

Genus-level guidance, not a rating for this individual species or a particular cultivar. RHS planting guidance. Choose accessible flowers with pollen and nectar; reduced-resource and double-flowered forms may be unsuitable.

Sources [3] [4]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Medium suitability
Nectar value Medium
Pollen value Unknown
Agroforestry database

Complete plant information

Open full plant profile

Structure

Vegetation layer
Herbaceous
Size
Small
Dimensions
0.10 m high × 0.30 m wide
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifecycle
Perennial
Foliage
Evergreen

Site conditions

USDA hardiness
5-8
Moisture
Well-drained, Moist
Soil
Sandy, Loamy
pH
Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
Light
Sun

Uses

Edible parts
Seasoning
Functions
Cosmetic, Essential oil, Ground cover, Fragrant
Edibility
2 out of 5
Medicinal value
2 out of 5

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.

Sources and references

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

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Thymus praecox — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 2689902; ID 7BXDH; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 2689902; ID 7BXDH; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Thymus praecox — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonNative rangeReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Native range: Country Or Region Of Origin
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Plants Of The World

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 2, column 2, entry Thymus species (top 367 pt)

    Source checked on .

  4. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Garden Plants

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 5, column 1, entry Thymus species (top 292 pt)

    Source checked on .