• Photo of Thymus pseudolanuginosus (Thymus pseudolanuginosuss)

Plant Profile: Thymus pseudolanuginosus

Names

Wooly Thyme

  • Photo of Thymus pseudolanuginosus (Thymus pseudolanuginosuss)

Phonetic Spelling:THY-mus soo-doh-lan-oo-gin-OH-sus

Genus:Thymus

Species:pseudolanuginosus

Family:Lamiaceae

Wooly Thyme is a low-growing herb from the mint family, native to Europe, that thrives in dry, well-drained soils under full sunlight. It is resilient against poor, rocky conditions, drought, deer grazing, foot traffic, and air pollution, but it does not fare well in clay or overly wet environments.

For an attractive display, consider mass planting it at the front of a garden border, where you can enjoy the butterflies and bees that are drawn to its flowers. It can also be placed between stepping stones or allowed to cascade over a rock wall. Regular pruning will help maintain its shape and promote vigorous growth along its woody stems. Unlike other varieties of thyme, Wooly Thyme lacks fragrance and is not suitable for culinary use.

In terms of pests and diseases, this plant generally faces no significant issues, although overly wet conditions can lead to root and crown rot.

Thymus pseudolanuginosus Feature Summary

Thymus pseudolanuginosus Image Gallery

Tags

#drought tolerant
#wildlife plant
#nectar plant
#low maintenance
#mass planting
#air pollution tolerant
#deer resistant
#rock gardens
#hairy leaves
#stepping stones
#food source summer
#border front
#dry soils tolerant
#butterfly friendly
#bee friendly
#guilford crevice garden

Similar Plants

Thymus pseudolanuginosus Feature Summary

Attributes
Flowers attract butterflies and bees.
Perennial
Flowers
Tiny pale pink tubular flowers appear in leaf axils sporadically in the summer.
< 1 inch
Leaves
Tiny 1/8 inch gray-green simple, elliptic leaves usually covered in hairs on both sides.
Green
Gray/Silver
Elliptical
< 1 inch
< 1 inch
Stem
Hairy stems turn woody with age.
Brown/Copper
Hairy (pubescent)
Whole Plant Traits
Herb
Ground Cover
Spreading
Horizontal
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Good Drainage
Occasionally Dry
Very Dry
Less than 12 inches
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Landscape
Drought Tolerant Garden
Rock Garden
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Border
Mass Planting
Drought
Deer
Pollution
Dry Soil
Foot Traffic
Container
Patio
Walkways
Small Space
Rock Wall
Butterflies
Bees

Thymus pseudolanuginosus Attributes

Thymus pseudolanuginosus: Country Or Region Of Origin

Southern Europe

Thymus pseudolanuginosus: Wildlife Value

Flowers attract butterflies and bees.

Thymus pseudolanuginosus: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Thymus pseudolanuginosus Flowers

Thymus pseudolanuginosus: Flower Description

Tiny pale pink tubular flowers appear in leaf axils sporadically in the summer.

Thymus pseudolanuginosus: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Pink

Thymus pseudolanuginosus: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Thymus pseudolanuginosus: Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Thymus pseudolanuginosus: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Thymus pseudolanuginosus Leaves

Thymus pseudolanuginosus: Leaf Description

Tiny 1/8 inch gray-green simple, elliptic leaves usually covered in hairs on both sides.

Thymus pseudolanuginosus: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Thymus pseudolanuginosus: Leaf Color

spa
Gray/Silver
spa
Green

Thymus pseudolanuginosus: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Thymus pseudolanuginosus: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Thymus pseudolanuginosus: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Thymus pseudolanuginosus: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Thymus pseudolanuginosus: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Thymus pseudolanuginosus: Leaf Feel

Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy

Thymus pseudolanuginosus: Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Thymus pseudolanuginosus Stem

Thymus pseudolanuginosus: Stem Description

Hairy stems turn woody with age.

Thymus pseudolanuginosus: Stem Color

grass
Brown/Copper

Thymus pseudolanuginosus: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Thymus pseudolanuginosus: Stem Surface

Corky Ridges
Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
Dull
Hairy (pubescent)
Polished
Smooth (glabrous)

Thymus pseudolanuginosus Whole Plant Traits

Thymus pseudolanuginosus: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Thymus pseudolanuginosus: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Thymus pseudolanuginosus: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Thymus pseudolanuginosus: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Thymus pseudolanuginosus: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Thymus pseudolanuginosus Cultural Conditions

Thymus pseudolanuginosus: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Thymus pseudolanuginosus: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Thymus pseudolanuginosus: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Thymus pseudolanuginosus: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Thymus pseudolanuginosus: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b

Thymus pseudolanuginosus: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Thymus pseudolanuginosus Landscape

Thymus pseudolanuginosus: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Thymus pseudolanuginosus: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Thymus pseudolanuginosus: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Thymus pseudolanuginosus: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Thymus pseudolanuginosus: Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees