Not the plant you're looking for? Search over 300,000 plants
Alpine RockeryShrubs

Thymus Coccineus Group
  • RHS AGM
  • RHS Plants for pollinators

thyme Coccineus Group

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

Synonyms
Thymus 'Coccineus'
Thymus serpyllum coccineus 'Minor' misapplied
see moreThymus 'Creeping Red'
Thymus praecox 'Coccineus'
Thymus serpyllum coccineus
Thymus serpyllum f. coccineus
Buy this plant
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
Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Green
Summer Pink Red Green
Autumn Green
Winter Green
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

East–facing or South–facing

Exposure
Exposed
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, 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

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.