Woolly thyme forms a low, fuzzy grey-green mat that stays only a few inches tall and spreads slowly to cover the ground between stepping stones. It is an evergreen with small flowers that bees visit, though it is grown here for the carpet rather than the kitchen.

Clay and wet feet are its enemies in Birmingham, so plant it on a slope or in raised soil with sharp drainage and full sun. Keep mulch light and off the crown, since piled-on mulch invites rot. Set it between pavers or along a path where foot traffic can brush past it.