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Alpine RockeryShrubs

Thymus 'Alan Bloom'

thyme 'Alan Bloom'

A creeping, low-growing, evergreen subshrub. In summer, purple-pink flowers are held above small, aromatic green leaves

Synonyms

Thymus serpyllum coccineus 'Minor' Bloom

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Ultimate height

Up to 10cm

Time to ultimate height

5–10 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing or East–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Drought resistance

Yes

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)

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 a sunny position in well-drained soil. If your soil is heavy or likely to sit wet over winter, grow in a pot, in a peat-free, loam-based compost with added grit. Remove fallen leaves that settle on thyme plants in autumn, to prevent rotting. See thyme cultivation for further advice

Propagation

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

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Gravel garden
Mediterranean climate plants
Patio and container plants
Rock garden
Ground cover

Pruning

No pruning required. Dead flower heads can be snipped off in late summer

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

Get involved

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