Pronounciation: Thy-mo-FIL-la ten-u-i-LO-ba

Hardiness zones
Sunset All
USDA All

Landscape Use: Multi-purpose border, edging, ground cover, wildflower garden, open naturalizing retention basins, winter annual.

Form & Character: Freely-matting carpet, prostrate, delicate, yet pesky and tough.

Growth Habit: Evergreen, herbaceous, cool season annual (in Phoenix) to short lived perennial, freely reseeding, quickly growing to 6- to 12-inches tall with slightly greater spread. Use water to control growth rate.

Foliage/Texture: Pinntified, thread-like leaves that are highly aromatic, green to dark green and ciliate; fine texture.

Flowers & Fruits: Small, yellow ray flowers to 1/2 inch in diameter, densely arrayed; fruits are achenes, brown, insidiously inconspicuous.

Seasonal Color: Yellow flowers in spring to mid summer.

Temperature: Prefers cooler temperatures. Dies out in mid summer in Phoenix.

Light: Partial to full sun (best).

Soil: Tough and tolerant of all Phoenix soils.

Watering: Tolerant, none to frequent depending on how much you want this little plant to spread.

Pruning: Remove entire plants after bloom.

Propagation: Similar to Thymophylla pentachaeta (they are functional equivalents in Phoenix landscapes), this is an EASY PEASY herb from seed which germinates naturally in the fall when the weather cools below 80^oF. If given half a chance, it can vigorously reseed and naturalize in Phoenix landscapes for years on end acorss your's and your neighbor's yard.

Disease and Pests: None, though its prostrate habit makes a great shelter for ants.

Additional comments: This is a free-spirited diminuative plant that is able to naturalize across your's and your neighbor's yard with little effort - BEWARE! As such, some consider this to be a noxious weed despite its cute ornament. Also, some find the highly aromatic foliage and flowers annoying to downright irritating. 'Golden Cascade' and 'Shooting Star' are named selections. Not as heat or drought tolerant as Thymophylla pentachaeta.