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Wild Thyme

Thymus polytrichus

Not yet photographed by the community

Tiny aromatic plant carpeting chalk grassland; bees love it.

Species Profile

Not listed as threatened; Green List status in the UK.

Lifespan: 3–5 years as a perennial herb
Size & Weight: 10–25 cm tall, forming low mats up to 50 cm across
Habitat: Dry, well-drained grasslands, heathlands, rocky slopes, and calcareous soils in open, sunny locations.
UK Distribution: Found throughout the UK, particularly in upland and western regions; most abundant in Wales, Scotland, and southwest England. Non-migratory perennial.
Diet: Not applicable; produces nectar and pollen for pollinators.
Predators: Grazed by sheep and rabbits; caterpillars of some moth species feed on foliage.
Mating Season: Flowering period June to August; insect pollination occurs throughout this season.
Breeding: Hermaphroditic flowers with both male and female parts; produces small dry seeds dispersed by wind and animals.
Behaviour: Wild Thyme forms dense, aromatic mats that suppress competing vegetation. Highly attractive to bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, making it ecologically valuable. Thrives in nutrient-poor soils where few other plants can establish.

Did You Know?

•The plant's scientific name, Thymus polytrichus, means 'many-haired thyme', referring to its hairy stems.
•Wild Thyme produces volatile essential oils that give it a distinctive aromatic scent, particularly when crushed underfoot.
•It was traditionally used in folk medicine and as a culinary herb, though garden thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is more commonly cultivated.
•A single Wild Thyme plant can support over 100 species of insects, making it crucial for pollinator conservation.
•The plant can survive on thin, rocky soils at high altitudes where soil depth is minimal, contributing to upland grassland ecosystems.

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