Species Thyme-Leaved Sandwort
white flowers with lime center, green buds, leaves and green stems

Thyme-Leaved Sandwort

Arenaria serpyllifolia var. serpyllifolia

Thyme-Leaved Sandwort (Arenaria serpyllifolia var. serpyllifolia) is a low-growing, perennial flowering plant. It has small, gray-green leaves that look like those of thyme, hence the name. The flowers are small, white, and five-petaled. This species appreciates full sun and dry, well-drained soils. It is a great ground cover for rocky or sandy soils and can tolerate poor soil conditions. It is also drought tolerant and can spread out over space. It is an excellent species to use in rock gardens and can grow up to four inches tall. It blooms in late spring and early summer. Thyme-Leaved Sandwort is a hardy, low-maintenance plant that is sure to add color and texture to any landscape.

Watering:

Minimal

Propagation:

Seed Propagation,Division,Cutting

Hardiness Zone:

Sun:

full sun,part shade

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green,gray,gray

Growth Rate:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Easy

watering

Thyme-Leaved Sandwort (Arenaria serpyllifolia var. serpyllifolia) should be watered regularly about once or twice a week, providing enough moisture to keep the soil uniformly moist but not saturated. Water in the morning so that the foliage has time to dry off before nightfall. During the heat of summer, water more often. Be careful not to overwater as this can cause root rot.

sunlight

The amount of sunlight that Thyme-Leaved Sandwort (Arenaria serpyllifolia var. serpyllifolia) needs depends on the season. During summer, it requires full sun for at least 6 to 8 hours a day, while in winter, it can handle partial shade. It does appreciate some light shade during the hottest parts of the day in the heat of summer. In the late afternoon or early morning, it enjoys a few hours of direct sunlight. Even during the winter, it needs indirect sunlight or the plant will become leggy with sparse leaves. For optimal growth, the plant should be given 4 to 5 hours of direct sunlight a day.

pruning

Thyme-Leaved Sandwort (Arenaria serpyllifolia var. serpyllifolia) should be pruned lightly in early spring, just before the new spring growth starts. Remove any dead or damaged stems, and also thin out any branches that are too close or overcrowded. Prune enough to keep the shape of the plant neat and tidy. Some gardeners may want to prune the top of the plant back quite low to stop it from becoming "leggy." Regular pruning can also remove any brown or wilted foliage.