Herb
Mother of Thyme
C tier
Mother of thyme is a folk and nursery name for creeping wild thymes (often T. serpyllum types)—soft mats, tiny leaves, and a gentle thyme perfume used in cottage cooking and bee gardens. The name is affectionate, not a strict cultivar. Treat culinarily like wild thyme: light hand, cheese, mushrooms, and eggs. Confirm fragrance before planting large areas if cooking is primary.
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Unit
Characteristics
Preparations
FreshGarnishLight CookingTea Traditional
Traits
Cottage GardenCreepingCreeping Wild TypeFolk HeritageFolk NameGentleGentle Flavour
History
GB
English common speech called creeping wild thyme mother of thyme.
GB
Nursery catalogues adopted the folk name for serpyllum-type plants.
American seed lists sold mother of thyme as fragrant groundcover.
Cottage-garden revival kept the name alive in herb literature.