Creeping Thyme, Perennial, Thymus praecox ‘Coccineus’
There is a lot to love about Red /Scarlet Creeping Thyme. In early summer Red /Scarlet Creeping Thyme covers the floor of your garden in a sea of magenta or lavender-red.
A low, mat-forming plant with fragrant foliage as well as beautiful blooms, it is easy and irresistible in any sunny setting.
Just a few inches high, the plant is densely covered with tiny, dark green, shiny leaves that are intensely aromatic when crushed—plant them between paving stones and enjoy their fragrance every time you pass by. You'll find yourself in wonderland with the thick carpet of fragrant vivid blooms carpeting your garden.
Plant uses: Alpine & Rock, Lawn Substitute, Between Flagstones, Attracts Butterflies, Containers, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Edging, Evergreen, Fragrant, Ground Cover
Evergreen in the South, semievergreen in the North.
Creeping Thyme will start blooming in late spring, reaching 12-18 inches wide and only a couple of inches tall.
Thymus or thymon is Greek for "courage." Through the centuries it has been used for traditions relating to this theme. Roman soldiers bathed in thyme water, European knights carried thyme tokens. Other folklore talks of thyme as being the home of fairies.
Butterflies love creeping thyme. The flowers attract pollinators, and are especially important for butterflies. Two species of butterflies—the small blue butterfly and the giant blue butterfly—lay their eggs in the flowers of creeping thyme. The larvae will subsequently develop into adult butterflies after feeding on the leaves.
Creeping thyme can grow normally in USDA zones 4 to 9, though this may vary depending on the variety.
Creeping thyme plants are great for decorating your rock garden, walkways, and stepping stones, but could also be used as a border plant for your garden because they act as deer and rabbit deterrents.
There are a few things you must take into consideration when planting creeping thyme. Though this plant can grow in various conditions, it prefers well-draining, nutrient-rich, and loamy soil.
However, it can also grow in different soil types, including sand and rocky soil. They thrive in alkaline soil, so make sure to check the pH levels before planting.
You can grow creeping thyme from either seeds or cuttings.
You should take the cuttings in early summer if you want to plant them; however, if you choose to grow the plant from seeds I would suggest you start the seeds indoors in the early spring.
Once the seeds have sprouted, transplant your new creeper to the garden – just make sure that the last frost date has passed.