Spanish Thyme

Spanish Thyme: A Native Puerto Rican Aromatic Shrub for Your Garden

If you’re looking for a compact, aromatic native plant to add to your Puerto Rican garden, Spanish thyme (Lippia micromera) might be just the ticket. This little-known perennial shrub brings a unique charm to landscapes while supporting local ecosystems as a true native species.

What is Spanish Thyme?

Spanish thyme is a native Puerto Rican shrub that belongs to the Lippia genus, known for their fragrant foliage and hardy nature. Despite its common name suggesting a connection to culinary thyme, this plant is actually part of the verbena family and offers its own distinct characteristics.

This perennial shrub typically grows as a multi-stemmed woody plant, usually staying under 13-16 feet in height, though most specimens remain much smaller. With its rhizomatous growth pattern and prostrate shape, Spanish thyme tends to spread horizontally, making it an interesting ground-covering option.

Where Does Spanish Thyme Grow?

Spanish thyme is endemic to Puerto Rico, meaning you won’t find it naturally occurring anywhere else in the world. This makes it a special addition to native plant gardens on the island, where it can help preserve local biodiversity and provide habitat for native wildlife.

Garden Appeal and Landscape Uses

At maturity, Spanish thyme reaches about 2.5 feet in height with a spreading, low-growing habit. Its yellow-green foliage provides subtle color variation in the landscape, and the plant’s relatively short lifespan of several years means it can serve as a dynamic element that changes over time.

This shrub works well in:

• Native plant gardens
• Ground cover applications
• Naturalized landscapes
• Areas where you want a low-maintenance, spreading plant

Growing Conditions and Care

Spanish thyme is adapted to Puerto Rico’s tropical climate and has some specific preferences when it comes to growing conditions:

Climate Requirements:

• Needs frost-free conditions year-round (365+ frost-free days)
• Minimum temperature tolerance around 40°F
• Thrives in areas with 29-80 inches of annual precipitation

Soil Preferences:

• Grows best in coarse-textured soils
• Also tolerates medium-textured soils
• Prefers slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.1-7.8)
• Needs good drainage

Light and Water:

• Requires full sun (shade intolerant)
• Has low drought tolerance, so regular watering is important
• Not suitable for consistently wet or waterlogged areas

Planting and Propagation

The good news is that Spanish thyme is routinely available commercially, making it accessible for gardeners interested in adding this native species to their landscapes. You have several propagation options:

• Container plants (most common)
• Bare root plants
• Seeds
• Cuttings

When planting, space plants according to your desired coverage – you can plant anywhere from 320 to 1,280 plants per acre depending on how quickly you want full coverage.

Maintenance and Long-term Care

Spanish thyme is relatively low-maintenance once established, but keep these points in mind:

• The plant has good resprout ability, meaning it can recover from damage
• It’s not particularly hedge-tolerant, so avoid heavy pruning
• Monitor for adequate moisture, especially during dry periods
• Roots typically extend at least 12 inches deep, so ensure good soil preparation

Is Spanish Thyme Right for Your Garden?

Spanish thyme is an excellent choice if you’re gardening in Puerto Rico and want to support native biodiversity. Its spreading habit makes it useful for ground cover applications, though its relatively short lifespan means you’ll need to plan for eventual replacement.

This plant is best suited for gardeners who:

• Want to grow native Puerto Rican species
• Have full sun locations with good drainage
• Can provide consistent moisture
• Appreciate low-growing, spreading plants
• Don’t mind replanting every few years

While Spanish thyme may not be the showiest plant in your garden, its value as a native species and its unique growth habit make it a worthwhile addition to naturalized landscapes and native plant collections in Puerto Rico.