Thymus serpyllum Magic Carpet seeds - Creeping thyme

Thymus serpyllum 'Magic Carpet', also known as wild thyme or French thyme, is a variety appreciated for its abundant flowering in bright pink. It forms a dense and low carpet, bearing small dark green aromatic leaves, evergreen in winter. In late spring or summer, depending on the climate, it adorns itself with lots of small magenta flowers just above the foliage. This wild thyme is a robust perennial, suited for poor, well-drained, even sandy soil. It forms a fragrant and colourful ground cover in rockeries and sunny borders.

Originally from Europe, North Africa, as well as Central and Western Asia, wild thyme belongs to the Lamiaceae family and naturally grows at high altitudes, in fairly dry areas, often on limestone and/or sandy soils. The 'Magic Carpet' thyme is a horticultural variety derived from this medicinal and aromatic plant. Its spreading habit extends to form a dense cover 5 to 10 cm in height and 40 to 50 cm in width. Its small, oval, leathery and slightly hairy leaves are carried by flexible stems that root at the nodes, allowing the plant to spread. Numerous essential oil glands, visible under a magnifying glass, cover these 3 mm leaves, offering a more subtle and balsamic fragrance than that of common thyme. Flowering occurs from June to August, in the form of small two-lipped pink magenta flowers, grouped in cymes, which attract a multitude of pollinators. The foliage persists in winter. Like many Mediterranean plants, thyme has a dual root system: a taproot to capture water deeply, and superficial roots capable of retrieving surface moisture.

Highly decorative all year round, 'Magic Carpet' thyme is particularly interesting in well-drained, even fairly dry soils. Thanks to its dense and spreading habit, it is perfect for embellishing a rockery, the gaps between paving stones, wall crevices, or the edges of stone stairs. It tolerates light trampling. It pairs perfectly with other plants from dry areas like lavenders, small-leaved salvias, cotton lavenders, dwarf wormwoods or 'Capri' creeping rosemary. In addition to its ornamental aspect, this thyme is appreciated in cooking for its delicately scented leaves reminiscent of the scrubland. Used alone or in a bouquet garni with bay leaves, rosemary, or parsley, they add a unique aromatic touch to stews, sauces, and marinades. The infused leaves are also known for their digestive properties. Useful and aesthetic, it can be grown in dry borders or in a pot, always within easy reach for cooks.