Thymus Coccineus Group

RHS Plant Profile

thyme Coccineus Group

Synonyms

Thymus 'Coccineus', Thymus 'Creeping Red', Thymus praecox 'Coccineus', Thymus serpyllum coccineus, Thymus serpyllum coccineus 'Minor' misapplied [1], Thymus serpyllum f. coccineus

Alpine Rockery Shrubs

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A creeping evergreen subshrub, forming a wide mat to 5cm tall, with very small, aromatic dark green leaves. Two-lipped, dark pink to magenta tubular-shaped flowers appear in the summer. Great for ground cover, with edible flowers

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

Up to 10 cm

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: Up to 10 cm

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: East–facing or South–facing
Exposure: Exposed
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H5

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Foliage

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Lamiaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Matforming
Genus: Thymus are evergreen woody-based perennials, shrub or sub-shrubs with small aromatic leaves and terminal whorls of small, 2-lipped, tubular, purple, pink or white flowers in late spring or summer
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil in full sun. Can be grown in a pot in an alpine house; use a mix of equal parts loam, leaf mould and grit

Propagation

Propagate by taking semi-hardwood cuttings in mid to late summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Gravel garden
Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
Rock garden
Wildlife gardens
Banks and slopes
Ground cover

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free