''Thymus caespititius'' is dwarf, aromatic mat-forming

groundcover Groundcover or ground cover is any plant that grows over an area of ground. Groundcover provides protection of the topsoil from erosion and drought. In an ecosystem, the ground cover forms the layer of vegetation below the shrub layer known as t ...

shrub. It is native to oceanic areas in the Iberian Peninsula (northwest

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of ...

and northwest

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

) and the Atlantic archipelagos of the

Azores ) , motto =( en, "Rather die free than subjected in peace") , anthem= ( en, "Anthem of the Azores") , image_map=Locator_map_of_Azores_in_EU.svg , map_alt=Location of the Azores within the European Union , map_caption=Location of the Azores wi ...

and

Madeira ) , anthem = ( en, "Anthem of the Autonomous Region of Madeira") , song_type = Regional anthem , image_map=EU-Portugal_with_Madeira_circled.svg , map_alt=Location of Madeira , map_caption=Location of Madeira , subdivision_type=Sovereign st ...

. The plant has narrow, spatula-shaped, smooth leaves to long, fringed with tiny hairs. The rose, lilac or white flowers are borne in small, flattened mat-hugging heads from late spring to summer.

Cultivation

''Thymus caespititius'', grown as an

ornamental plant Ornamental plants or garden plants are plants that are primarily grown for their beauty but also for qualities such as scent or how they shape physical space. Many flowering plants and garden varieties tend to be specially bred cultivars that i ...

, and is hardy down to

USDA The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is the federal executive department responsible for developing and executing federal laws related to farming, forestry, rural economic development, and food. It aims to meet the needs of com ...

Zone 7. The

cultivar A cultivar is a type of cultivated plant that people have selected for desired traits and when propagated retain those traits. Methods used to propagate cultivars include: division, root and stem cuttings, offsets, grafting, tissue culture, ...

''Thymus caespititius'' 'Aureus' has narrow, light gold leaves.Griffiths, Mark. ''Index of Garden Plants.'' (Portland: Timber Press, Inc., 1994; .)

Gallery

File:Thymus caespititius (Leafs).jpg File:Açores 2010-07-22 (5131184114).jpg File:Açores 2010-07-22 (5130582157).jpg

References

caespititius Flora of Portugal Flora of Spain Flora of the Azores Herbs Garden plants of Europe Groundcovers {{Lamiaceae-stub