A wonderful lawn substitute, marjoram is a variety of oregano with a milder citrusy pine flavor. Alpine strawberry. The most popular variety is the English creeping thyme which is the one best used to flavor foods. If we had bundles of parsley, cilantro or watercress growing in tufts in our yard, chances are we wouldn’t just pull them as weeds. Edible Uses: Tea Leaves - raw in salads or added as a flavouring to cooked foods [2, 11, 46, 61]. From dandelion to wild violets… chickweed to clover, there are all kinds of natural and cultivated edible ground covers worth growing. As a food, Okinawa spinach is a spinach substitute, similar to longevity spinach (gynura procumbens, making a nice addition to salads, and can also be eaten cooked. Oxalic acid also has its pros and cons with opposing and confusing information on whether it’s best cooked or raw. Spicy orange thyme, creeping lemon thyme and caraway thyme all bear pink blooms and stay short (4 inches or less). It may be used as a turf substitute in some landscapes where foot traffic is light. This is a low, creeping variety, the foliage is dark green, smothered by bright magenta-pink flowers in early summer. Lemon thyme or Thymus x citriodorus is perhaps the most edible of all of the creeping thyme species we’ve discussed. Though creeping thyme is edible, it is not usually grown for this use, and instead is considered to be an ornamental plant that works well as ground cover. Not as pungently-scented as other thymus species, wooly thyme is still wonderful. As many as 300 varieties of thyme tempt us during a visit to the garden store, but one of the most lovely types for groundcover is Thymus praecox ‘Coccineus’, otherwise known as “creeping thyme,” “wild thyme” or sometimes “mother of thyme.”. Choosing plants that grow and thrive in your particular climate is the very first step toward having a beautiful garden . Though creeping thyme is edible, it is not usually grown for this use, and instead is considered to be an ornamental plant that works well as ground cover. As an added bonus, thyme blooms in a … If you have dogs like we do, edible groundcovers are best planted outside the dog’s range. Creeping thyme might not be edible like its cousin, but it does produce a pleasant herbal fragrance that’s similar to the thyme you use in cooking. 2. Often overlooked, ground cover plants are a worth considering for gardens, yards and landscapes. Our electric dog fence spans a large area, so we’re limited on where we can plant edible ground cover plants. Thyme plants are woody perennials, compact and evergreen or semi-evergreen. The herb doesn’t mind a bit of rough handling and can be trod upon with no ill effects. The Elfin Thyme, thymus serpyllum —is a fast-spreading creeping thyme. Thymus praecox 'Coccineus' SKU. It is purported to have properties that help lower cholesterol, and is grown commercially as a vegetable in China. Creeping thyme is perfect for rock walkways and for use around stepping stones. Yet most people do that all the time with other perfectly viable edibles. Including urban farming, family gardening, homesteading, gardening for profits, and more. Although the leaves are aromatic, they are rarely used in cooking. Is ideal for gardeners who are worried about pests, pets, or kids traipsing through their yard and holds up very well if walked on. Although it is not often harvested, creeping thyme, like any thyme variety, is edible and can be made into teas or other herbal remedies. There’s nothing quite like the delight and freedom that comes from walking out your door and harvesting your dinner from plants you’ve grown into food. Hardy Perennial. The Best Garden Gloves for Men, Women and Kids! However, there’s far more to this plant that meets the eye! The mounding marjoram is a low growing, ground-hugging aromatic herb. A staple food, that’s long lasting and easy to store, sweet potatoes are a rich source of vitamins and minerals. Yep… planting weeds in pots, but it’s edible weeds with benefits! The berries produced by alpine strawberries are incredibly fragrant and flavorful, … Edible Herb Ground Cover Plants. Types of thyme plants cultivate… A creeping thyme lawn is not only drought resistant, but it generally requires much less water than traditional turf grasses too. You can plant them as companion plants for a larger plant, or, as an entire large planter of just growing edible ground cover plants. Blooming profusely from early to mid summer, it features clusters of small, salmon-pink flowers. It’s a perennial in most zones (4-9) and easy to maintain. Bees and butterflies love the lilac flowers on this creeping, tiny-leafed, plant. If you have dogs like we do, edible ground covers are best planted outside the dog’s range if you plan to eat it. There are very few rules in gardening, but perhaps the most important one is to work within your zone. Getting the best gardening news, tips, tricks and products out to you. We planted our ajuga in landscaped areas around our sidewalk. Here are more wonderful edible ground covers that grow best in shade or partial shade. These are a special ground cover for smaller areas as they stay put and won’t self-propagate via runners. Thyme retains its flavour well in long slow cooking. Though not really minty in flavor or aroma, ajuga is in the mint family, and as with all mints, ajuga is edible with medicinal properties. Sweet potato roots are widely known to be delicious and nutritious. Ajuga is designed to thrive and so it can be be invasive, but ours hasn’t spread aggressively. 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