Mastic thyme
Thymus mastichina
A low, camphor-scented thyme carpeting the hottest, driest ground — living mulch for pollinators and the kitchen. Hates wet feet and fades fast on rich soil.
Mastic thyme in a syntropic line
Mastic thyme belongs in the Ground cover layer as a Secondary productive species. Aim for 2–4 species for resilient, continuous cover. Rough in-row spacing starts around 0.3 m in a syntropic row. Good line partners include Bladder senna, Casuarina. As a Secondary species it carries mid-term yield and structure while climax trees slowly claim the canopy.
Tolerances and growing conditions
- Strata
- Ground cover
- Lifecycle
- Secondary
- Soil preference
- Rocky, Sandy
- Soil pH range
- 6 – 8
- Min. temperature
- -10°C
- Min. rainfall
- 350 mm/year
- Wind tolerance
- High
- Frost tolerance
- Medium
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Irrigation needed
- Low
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Waterlogging tolerance
- Low
- Origin
- Iberia
- Native to Portugal
- Yes
How to manage it
Low creeping culinary and pollinator thyme for hot dry banks; trim after flowering to prevent woodiness.
How to propagate
Softwood cuttings in spring or division of established clumps; keep cuttings dry.
Guidance, not a guarantee — success varies by species and skill.
What to watch out for
Rots in wet or heavy soil; short-lived — replace plants every few years on rich ground.
Frequently asked questions about Mastic thyme
Is mastic thyme frost-hardy?
Yes for winter cold in many climates — generally hardy to around -10°C when dormant, with medium frost tolerance in the catalog. Flowering crops can still lose a season to late frost, so site them carefully.
What soil does mastic thyme need?
It does best on rocky, sandy ground, at pH about 6–8.
How much water does mastic thyme need?
Plan for a rainfall floor around 350 mm/year, plus low irrigation once established.
Can mastic thyme handle wet or waterlogged soil?
Poorly — mastic thyme has low waterlogging tolerance, so keep it off winter-wet clay and standing water.
What should I watch out for with mastic thyme?
Rots in wet or heavy soil; short-lived — replace plants every few years on rich ground.
Design your line to see how your land fits Mastic thyme.
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