Species of flowering plant
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Thymus praecox is a species of thyme. A common name is mother of thyme, but "creeping thyme" and "wild thyme" may be used where "Thymus serpyllum", which also shares these names, is not found. It is native to central, southern, and western Europe.
Classification.
"Thymus praecox" is in the genus "Thymus" belonging to the "Serpyllum" section. It has sometimes been reclassified as "T. polytrichus."
Subspecies and cultivars.
"Thymus praecox" subspecies and cultivars include:
Uses.
Cultivation.
"Thymus praecox" is cultivated as an ornamental plant, used as an evergreen groundcover in gardens and pots. When maintained at a lower height it is used between paving stones in patios and walkways. It is drought tolerant when established.
This thyme species (and "Thymus serpyllum") has escaped cultivation in North America, and is a weed or invasive species in some habitats in the United States.
Cuisine.
This thyme has a strong scent similar to Oregano. It can be used in cuisine.
Like other species of thyme, "Thymus praecox" is characterized by substantial differences in essential oil composition from plant to plant. Plants which differ in this way are known as "chemotypes" and a geographical population will generally contain a mix of chemotypes. For example, studies of chemotypes in Greenland, Iceland, Norway, England, Scotland, and Ireland show that chemotypes span those countries rather than being geographically localized. Some of those areas contain greater chemotype diversity than others.
References.
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