Thyme is a versatile addition to any sunny garden, whether one is seeking the edible varieties or just the ornamentals. Woolly thyme is definitely of the ornamental type, growing as a dense ground cover made up of countless small, hair-covered leaves that are gray-green in color and mildly fragrant when bruised. Only three inches tall, this variety will spread up to a foot wide, trailing nicely from hanging baskets or container planters, over rocks and retaining walls, or between stepping stones. The woolly leaves add an interesting texture as well, and soften the overall look of the garden.

Woolly thyme will often die back completely in the Pacific NW winter garden, but comes back quickly in the spring. It does best in gravelly soil and becomes drought tolerant once established. Deer are not fond of it but bees and other pollinators enjoy the flowers.