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Thymus serpyllum 'Purple Beauty'
  • RHS Plants for pollinators

thyme 'Purple Beauty'

A dense, mat forming, evergreen sub-shrub with small, ovate, highly aromatic, dark green leaves and dense whorls of small, purple-pink flowers appearing in early summer

Synonyms
Thymus serpyllum 'Purple Beauty'
Thymus serpyllum 'Atropurpureus'
see moreThymus (Coccineus Group) 'Atropurpureus' Schleipfer
Thymus atropurpureus
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Size
Ultimate height
Up to 10cm
Time to ultimate height
5–10 years
Ultimate spread
0.1–0.5 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Neutral, Alkaline
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Green
Summer Purple Pink Green
Autumn Green
Winter Green
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness
H5
Botanical details
Family
Lamiaceae
Native to the UK
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, alkaline to neutral soil in full sun. Suitable for rock garden or paving crevices where they release their fragrance when trodden on. See thyme cultivation for more information

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cuttings. Use bottom heat for root initiation

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Gravel garden
  • Mediterranean climate plants
  • Patio and container plants
  • Rock garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Low Maintenance
  • Ground cover
Pruning

Cut back after flowering to maintain compactness

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

Get involved

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