Growing & using Heretus Thyme

Heretus Thyme is one of our most unusual ground cover thymes with its long, narrow, gray-green leaves that give it an almost lacy appearance. But, don’t let its appearance fool you.

Even more impressive than the way Heretus Thyme grows and covers the ground is the incredible display of lilac flowers it produces in early spring.

The bright bluish-purple of the garden sage and the lilac of the Heretus Thyme seem an unlikely combination, but the effect is stunning. The hard working Heretus Thyme blooms for weeks after the sage is finished. The blooms can reach two to three inches in height. After bloom, the flowers fall off leaving slender stems which can be sheared off or left to fall off. Once the flowers are gone, the thyme becomes low and flat to the ground again. This is when it begins to creep once more.


Heretus Thyme seems to hold its own but Pink Lemonade Thyme is a very aggressive ground cover which, may in time, take over the rest of the Heretus. Because Heretus Thyme is a little slower growing than some of the other ground cover thymes, it can be used either to cover small patches of open ground or to fill in between stepping stones.

Heretus Thyme is sometimes included in ourFlagstone Filler 36-Plant Assortment, available in either 6 plants each of 6 different varieties, or 3 plants each of 12 different varieties.