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Creeping Thyme

Scientific name Varies by crop

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Alliance Of Native Seedkeepers  |  SKU: HB28

Seed packet & garden essentials

What to know before you plant

View complete growing & care facts
600 minimum seeds per packet
  • Maturity110-119 Days · First usable harvest varies by crop and season; see packet and field notes
  • Growth habitProstrate/Groundcover · Perennial · 2 in tall
  • Best userock gardens, containers, culinary harvest, and low flowering cover
  • Flavor & characterearthy, resinous, savory aroma · Purple
  • Germination14–21 Days days · 60–75 °F
  • Seed preparationUse a fine sterile mix and avoid burying tiny seed deeply
  • SunFull sun
  • Support & spacingNo-Support · space 6 in · rows 12 in
  • Container fitGood with drainage and adequate soil volume
  • Water needsModerate
  • SoilSandy loam · pH 6.5–7.0
  • Planting seasonSpring · blooms Summer · Hardy
$200 USD

Pickup available at Bertie County Seeds

Usually ready in 2-4 days
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Triple-tested seed qualityRegular quality and germination checks support every packet.

We regularly test seed quality and germination as lots move through storage and packing. We stand behind the seed we send and want customers to contact us when a packet does not perform as reasonably expected.

1-year seed warrantyCoverage begins on the date of purchase.

When properly stored, planted, and cared for, we guarantee reasonable germination and true-to-type growth for one year from the date of purchase. Conditions outside our control—including extreme weather, pests, unsuitable storage, and gardener error—are excluded. Contact us when something is not right so we can review the situation and work toward a replacement, refund, or another fair resolution.

Non-GMO / BE seed policyWe do not buy or sell genetically engineered or bioengineered seed.

Every seed variety we sell is non-GMO.

USDA’s National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard defines bioengineered foods as containing detectable genetic material modified through in vitro recombinant DNA methods in ways not achievable through conventional breeding or found in nature.

  • Hybrid means parent lines were conventionally crossed; hybrid does not mean GMO.
  • Heirloom and open-pollinated describe how a variety is maintained and reproduced.
  • Organic certification is separate and is shown only when verified for the individual product.

Read how we define heirloom, hybrid, and GMO/BE seed · USDA BE Standard

Packed in Colerain, North CarolinaPrepared in our seed room for gardens across the country.

Seeds are packed and shipped from Colerain, North Carolina. Our packets use forestry-certified paper, and we use recyclable paper mailers where appropriate. AONSK is also a 1% for the Planet partner while continuing to reduce waste in packing and fulfillment.

Seed success profile

Rules-based · no AI
Gardener experience Beginner to Intermediate
Germination difficulty Moderate
Preparation before sowing
Use a fine sterile mix and avoid burying tiny seed deeply
Germination speed
Typical — usually 7–21 days
Growing complexity
Moderate
Patience and timing
Varies by crop, cultivar, and season
Is this seed a good match for your experience?
Expected germination
14–21 Days
Germination temperature
60–75 °F
Stratification
None
Scarification
None
Pre-soaking
None
Light during germination
Many tiny herb seeds germinate best with light or only the thinnest covering
Germination pattern
Slower than basil; drainage is critical
Transplant sensitivity
Transplant after roots hold the plug together
Best chance of success
Use a fine sterile mix and avoid burying tiny seed deeply
What to expect

Expect 10-28 days near 65-75°F. Many tiny herb seeds germinate best with light or only the thinnest covering. Slower than basil; drainage is critical.

Slow germination is not automatically failed germination.

Maintain the listed temperature, moisture, light, and treatment conditions for the full expected window. Some seed lots emerge gradually rather than all at once.

1 Beginner-friendly 2 One extra step 3 Some experience helpful 4 Patient growers 5 Advanced propagation

This deterministic profile uses recorded product facts; it is not Artificial Intelligence and is not a guarantee. Seed age, storage, sowing depth, moisture, temperature, light, local conditions, and aftercare can all affect results. Last reviewed July 2026.

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Complete product description

Creeping Thyme

Creeping Thyme seeds belong in a garden plan built around timing, soil, and the way the harvest will actually be used. Creeping Thyme is best suited to rock gardens, containers, culinary harvest, and low flowering cover. Its defining kitchen character is earthy, resinous, savory aroma.

In our seed room, we do not treat a packet as a decoration or a promise detached from conditions. We look at the lot, the germination window, the crop family, the plant habit, and the point at which the harvest is at its best. For Creeping Thyme, that means sowing Surface to 1/8 inch deep, maintaining allow surface to dry slightly between waterings, and giving plants enough room to express the form named on the packet.

Common thyme is grown chiefly for culinary stems; creeping thyme is selected for lower, spreading growth. Seed-grown plants show variation, which is part of the honest expectation for open-pollinated populations.

Start with fresh seed, write down the sowing date, and judge the crop across the whole planting rather than one exceptional plant. A reliable variety is not one that survives neglect by accident. It is one that answers good care with a useful harvest, then gives the seedkeeper enough honest information to decide whether it deserves another season.

Minimum Seed Count: 600 seeds

Additional variety notes

Variety overview

Creeping Thyme seeds belong in a garden plan built around timing, soil, and the way the harvest will actually be used. Creeping Thyme is best suited to rock gardens, containers, culinary harvest, and low flowering cover. Its defining kitchen character is earthy, resinous, savory aroma. In our seed room, we do not treat a packet as a decoration or a promise detached from conditions. We look at the lot, the germination window, the crop family, the plant habit, and the point at which the harvest is at its best. For Creeping Thyme, that means sowing Surface to 1/8 inch deep, maintaining allow surface to dry slightly between waterings, and giving plants enough room to express the form named on the packet. Common thyme is grown chiefly for culinary stems; creeping thyme is selected for lower, spreading growth. Seed-grown plants show variation, which is part of the honest expectation for open-pollinated populations. Start with fresh seed, write down the sowing date, and judge the crop across the whole planting rather than one exceptional plant. A reliable variety is not one that survives neglect by accident. It is one that answers good care with a useful harvest, then gives the seedkeeper enough honest information to decide whether it deserves another season.

Every recorded growing detail

Complete growing & care facts

Continue to the garden-fit planner

Plant identity

Minimum seed count 600 seeds
Seed product profile Culinary herb
Scientific name Varies by crop
Also known as Thyme, Thyme Seeds - Creeping Thyme
Color Purple
Life cycle Perennial
Botanical family Lamiaceae
Reproductive type Open-Pollinated (OP)
Heritage qualifiers Heirloom
Native to the United States No - Introduced
Domestication note Mediterranean Basin

Seed success and gardener experience

Gardener experience Beginner to IntermediateLevel 2 of 5
Germination difficulty ModerateLevel 2 of 5
Preparation before sowing Use a fine sterile mix and avoid burying tiny seed deeply
Stratification None
Scarification None
Pre-soaking None
Light during germination Many tiny herb seeds germinate best with light or only the thinnest covering
Germination pattern Slower than basil; drainage is critical
Growing complexity Moderate
Transplant sensitivity Transplant after roots hold the plug together
First harvest or bloom Varies by crop, cultivar, and season
Best chance of success Use a fine sterile mix and avoid burying tiny seed deeply

Timing and climate

Days to maturity 110-119 Days
Germination 14–21 Days
Germination temperature 60–75 °F
Planting season Spring
Bloom season Summer
Frost tolerance Hardy
Sunlight Full sun
Water needs Moderate

Site, soil, and space

Soil type Sandy loam
Preferred soil pH 6.5–7.0
Seed depth Barely cover
Plant spacing 6 in
Row spacing 12 in
Mature height 2 in
Growth habit Prostrate/Groundcover
Support needed No-Support
Suitable growing locations In-ground bed

Crop-specific details

Flavor profile earthy, resinous, savory aroma

Garden-fit planning for this variety

Will Creeping Thyme fit your garden?

Check container space, harvest use, life cycle, light, moisture, and sowing method.

Rules-based · no AI
Questions for this culinary herb seed
Seed-starting fit and patience
Recorded product profileBeginner to IntermediateModerateRead why
Soil test, pH, drainage, and amendment calculator Have a laboratory soil report? Enter pH, nutrients, texture, bed size, and site observations here. Open soil tools
Recorded soil typeSandy loam
Recorded pH range6.5–7.0
Water needsModerate
LightFull sun

Use a current laboratory soil test

Soil-test interpreter

Compare your report with this product's listed pH target: 6.5–7.0.

This tool interprets values you enter; it does not replace laboratory or Cooperative Extension amendment rates. Soil test methods and nutrient recommendations vary by region.

The full variety record

Sowing, care, harvest, troubleshooting, and history

How to start Creeping Thyme from seedPreparation, timing, depth, germination, transplanting, spacing, and early care

Variety-specific germination notes

Expect 10-28 days near 65-75°F. Many tiny herb seeds germinate best with light or only the thinnest covering. Slower than basil; drainage is critical.

Complete sowing and planting guidance

Sow Surface to 1/8 inch deep during start indoors before frost or sow after soil warms. Space plants 12-24 inches apart with 18-30 inches between rows. Germination commonly begins in 10-28 days near 65-75°F. Provide full sun and allow surface to dry slightly between waterings.
How to grow this specific varietyLight, water, fertility, support, spacing, airflow, crop behavior, and season-long care

Variety-specific growing notes

Use a fine, well-drained seed-starting mix or a carefully prepared garden bed. Use a fine sterile mix and avoid burying tiny seed deeply. Sow Surface to 1/8 inch deep and follow this light rule: Many tiny herb seeds germinate best with light or only the thinnest covering. Keep the seed zone moist but never airless. After emergence, provide bright light and circulation so stems remain sturdy. Thin or transplant to 12-24 inches, leaving 18-30 inches between rows. The plant habit is aromatic herb adapted to bright light and drainage, generally reaching 8-36 inches. Water according to the root zone rather than the surface appearance. Harvest regularly where leaf production is the goal, but reserve clearly labeled plants when you intend to save seed.

Complete growing guide

Use a fine, well-drained seed-starting mix or a carefully prepared garden bed. Use a fine sterile mix and avoid burying tiny seed deeply. Sow Surface to 1/8 inch deep and follow this light rule: Many tiny herb seeds germinate best with light or only the thinnest covering. Keep the seed zone moist but never airless. After emergence, provide bright light and circulation so stems remain sturdy. Thin or transplant to 12-24 inches, leaving 18-30 inches between rows. The plant habit is aromatic herb adapted to bright light and drainage, generally reaching 8-36 inches. Water according to the root zone rather than the surface appearance. Harvest regularly where leaf production is the goal, but reserve clearly labeled plants when you intend to save seed.
Practical field and garden tipsExtra techniques, timing adjustments, and observations that improve success
Keep a written record of sowing date, soil temperature, first emergence, thinning, first harvest, flowering, and seed maturity. Herbs are often judged only by aroma, but plant architecture, bolt timing, winter survival, disease tolerance, and labor at harvest decide whether a variety belongs in a working garden. Do not fertilize aromatic herbs into soft, watery growth. Feed the soil according to a test and let the plant keep its character.
Harvest, storage, uses, and benefitsWhen and how to harvest, ways to use the crop, storage, culinary value, habitat value, and garden roles

Harvest and use notes

Harvest for rock gardens, containers, culinary harvest, and low flowering cover. Use the crop at its intended stage, and reserve only healthy true-to-type plants for seed. Most mint-family herbs are insect-pollinated and varieties can cross within compatible species. Isolate flowering seed plants and save from multiple true-to-type plants.

Uses and benefits

Best for rock gardens, containers, culinary harvest, and low flowering cover. Flavor and aroma: earthy, resinous, savory aroma. Flowers may support pollinators when the crop is allowed to bloom; harvest use depends on the species and cultivar.
Seed saving and carrying the variety forwardPollination, isolation, selection, harvest, cleaning, drying, and storage
Most mint-family herbs are insect-pollinated and varieties can cross within compatible species. Isolate flowering seed plants and save from multiple true-to-type plants.
Common pests, diseases, and growing problemsIdentification, prevention, crop-safe response, and when intervention is justified

Variety troubleshooting summary

Q: When should I sow Creeping Thyme?
A: Start indoors before frost or sow after soil warms. Match the crop to soil temperature and night temperature rather than relying only on a calendar date.

Q: How long does germination take?
A: Usually 10-28 days near 65-75°F, though seed age, moisture, depth, and species matter.

Q: Can it grow in a container?
A: Yes when the container has drainage and enough soil volume. Compact basil, parsley, chives, chamomile, thyme, and many onions are especially useful in containers; tall dill, fennel, and leeks need more depth and space.

Q: Can I save seed?
A: Yes. Most mint-family herbs are insect-pollinated and varieties can cross within compatible species. Isolate flowering seed plants and save from multiple true-to-type plants.

Q: Is this page medical advice?
A: No. Traditional or herbal uses are presented as cultural and garden context. Use qualified medical guidance for health decisions.

Complete pest and problem guide

The most common failures are cultural: buried tiny seed, stale seed, waterlogged mix, weak light, crowded seedlings, root disturbance in taprooted herbs, or a climate mismatch. Aphids, spider mites, caterpillars, leaf spots, damping-off, and root rots may occur. Identify the organism or condition before treating. Improve airflow, irrigate the soil instead of the foliage, sanitize containers, and avoid keeping woody Mediterranean herbs continuously wet.
Questions gardeners ask about this seedProduct-specific answers for sowing, care, harvest, use, and seed saving
Q: When should I sow Creeping Thyme?
A: Start indoors before frost or sow after soil warms. Match the crop to soil temperature and night temperature rather than relying only on a calendar date.

Q: How long does germination take?
A: Usually 10-28 days near 65-75°F, though seed age, moisture, depth, and species matter.

Q: Can it grow in a container?
A: Yes when the container has drainage and enough soil volume. Compact basil, parsley, chives, chamomile, thyme, and many onions are especially useful in containers; tall dill, fennel, and leeks need more depth and space.

Q: Can I save seed?
A: Yes. Most mint-family herbs are insect-pollinated and varieties can cross within compatible species. Isolate flowering seed plants and save from multiple true-to-type plants.

Q: Is this page medical advice?
A: No. Traditional or herbal uses are presented as cultural and garden context. Use qualified medical guidance for health decisions.
History, provenance, and cultural contextWhat is documented, what is reported, what remains uncertain, and how the variety reached gardeners

Scientific name: Varies by crop

Provenance summary

Common thyme is grown chiefly for culinary stems; creeping thyme is selected for lower, spreading growth. Seed-grown plants show variation, which is part of the honest expectation for open-pollinated populations.

Plant and variety history

Common thyme is grown chiefly for culinary stems; creeping thyme is selected for lower, spreading growth. Seed-grown plants show variation, which is part of the honest expectation for open-pollinated populations.

Source and record notes

https://extension.psu.edu/growing-herbs-in-the-garden
https://extension.umn.edu/gardening-minnesota/growing-herbs
https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/extension-gardener-handbook/16-vegetable-gardening

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Customer experience

Reviews for Creeping Thyme

Customer Reviews

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Tina

Excited to sow and watch them grow and spread.

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