Plant · GBIF taxon 5605814
Woolly Thyme
Thymus pseudolanuginosusAlso known as Wooly Thyme, Downy Thyme, Creeping Woolly Thyme
Woolly thyme spreads across sunny rock crevices and path edges, forming exceptionally dense, silver-gray carpets of finely felted foliage. The thick coating of tiny hairs traps moisture and reflects harsh sunlight, allowing the plant to flourish in dry, exposed alpine conditions. In midsummer, tiny pale pink to lilac flowers bloom across the mat, attracting small foraging solitary bees and hoverflies.
Drought-TolerantAromaticGroundcover
Licensed referenceWikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (photosynthetic)
Predators
- Slugs
- Snails
- Spider Mites
ThreatsOverwatering, poor soil drainage, and excessive foot traffic
HabitatsRocky slopes, alpine scree, and dry gravelly soils
Life spanPerennial (5–10 years)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderLamiales
- FamilyLamiaceae
- GenusThymus
- SpeciesThymus pseudolanuginosus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to touch and observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Sensory Observation: Gently brush the fuzzy foliage to release its faint herbal scent without tearing the creeping stems.
- Path Placement: Observe how it grows between stepping stones where occasional gentle contact releases fragrance.
- Drainage Needs: Look for it thriving in sharply drained, gritty soil under full sun rather than wet, rich earth.
Pollinator Andreas Trepte / CC BY-SA 2.5 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Carlos Otávio Gussoni, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Carlos Otávio Gussoni · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Josep Gesti, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Josep Gesti · cc-by-sa
Close Relative no rights reserved · cc0
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