Thymus serphyllum / Wild Thyme Herb

Thymus serpyllum, known by the common names of Breckland thyme, Breckland wild thyme, wild thyme, creeping thyme, or elfin thyme, is a species of flowering plant in the mint family Lamiaceae, native to most of Europe and North Africa.

It is a low, usually prostrate sub-shrub growing to 2 cm (1 in) tall with creeping stems up to 10 cm (4 in) long. The oval evergreen leaves are 3–8 mm long. The strongly scented flowers are either lilac, pink-purple, magenta, or a rare white.

The hardy plant tolerates some pedestrian traffic and produces odours ranging from heavily herbal to lightly lemon, depending on the variety. It can be found growing on sandy-soiled heaths, rocky outcrops, hills, banks, roadsides and riverside sand banks.