A subshrub of the Lamiaceae family, this white-flowered cultivar is selected from Thymus serpyllum, a Eurasian species widely spread in the dry grasslands, heaths, and rocky outcrops of Europe. 'Albus' is an old garden cultivar, mentioned in British horticultural literature.
It forms dense, rounded clumps, slightly domed, 2 to 5 cm in height, with foliage of a bright, vivid green that is particularly luminous. This intense green, visible even before blooming, is an immediate distinguishing feature compared to the colored-flower forms whose foliage is often duller.
The flowers are pure white, borne in small, tight heads that cover the clump so uniformly and densely that they almost entirely obscure the foliage at the peak of anthesis. The calyces remain green, without a reddish tint, enhancing the freshness of the overall white and green ensemble. In its natural habitat, the species blooms from June to August. In cultivation, 'Albus' generally blooms from June to July.
It requires well-drained soil, poor to moderately fertile, in full exposure. Easy and vigorous, it is suitable for rockeries, pavings, sunny walls, and borders, and is lightly trimmed after flowering to maintain a compact habit.