How to Grow and Care For Red Creeping Thyme

You walk through your garden, and an earthy smell welcomes you. Then, with another step forward, you see a low-growing mat of red/pink flowers from the red creeping thyme.

The best part is that the blooming thyme is the only thyme found with a creeping habit and can handle some foot traffic. The plant is pleasing to the eye and has a sweet perfume, making it ideal for walkways or stepping stones.

Another impressive thing is that when you grow creeping thyme, they are excellent for ground cover and attract butterflies and pollinators. As a ground cover, they have loads of benefits, acting as a living mulch to prevent erosion.

You have many options for creeping thyme, and the care for the red creeping thyme is not different compared to the other creeping thyme species. So, put a smile on your face throughout the year by learning to care for the best ground cover you can find.

Plant Name: Thymus praecox ‘Coccineus’

Other Name: Red Creeping Thyme

Plant Type: Herbaceous Perennial

Native Areas: Europe

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Watering: Moderate

Fertilizer: Balanced slow-release fertilizer

Toxicity: Non-toxic

Temperature: Warm

Propagation: Division and seed

Growth: 3 inches tall and 6-18 inches wide

Soil Type: Neutral to alkaline soil

USDA Hardiness Zones: 2-9

More About Red Creeping Thyme

It would be best not to confuse them with your common thyme use for culinary purposes like lemon thyme. The red creeping thyme grows about three inches tall and can spread a foot across growing with dense mats.

You see small gray-green fuzzy leaves that release an aromatic smell when crushed. Then, as summer arrives, the plant greets you with pink flowers that attract butterflies and bees. It is also known as the mother of thyme plants.

In the Thymus genus, you can find over 350 species with aromatic aromas and herbaceous perennials from North Africa, Asia, and Southern Europe. Manufacturers also derive the oil for essential oils for common thyme plants like Thymus vulgaris and lemon thyme.

As important as the essential oil of the thyme species mentioned, the wild thyme is also edible. The creeping thyme is an excellent companion plant for vegetable patches or hardscaping harsh corners in the garden.

Red Creeping Thyme Plant Care Tips

red creeping thyme

You can grow creeping thyme in USDA hardiness zones 4 to 9, as the aromatic flowers and leaves attract butterflies. The thyme plants belong to the mint family and are deer-resistant and drought-tolerant. When bought, it is categorized as a low-maintenance plant and needs no deadheading of spent flowers, as it will spread to create blooms.

It also grows small woody stems and works great as a lawn substitute.

Planting Red Creeping Thyme Plants

Planting Red Creeping Thyme is a straightforward process as it is a hardy plant that can handle foot traffic and rocky soil. You can grow creeping thyme in a rock garden in poor soil to display the pink, purple, or white flowers. It is a low-maintenance plant that will provide you with regular fresh growth.

The best time to plant creeping thyme is in the spring or early summer when the soil has warmed up and the danger of frost has passed. Red Creeping Thyme loves full sun. Ensure the chosen location receives at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily.

It’s essential to pick a well-draining spot because thyme dislikes standing water. If your soil has inadequate drainage, consider raising the planting area or adding organic matter to improve it. Red Creeping Thyme prefers slightly alkaline to neutral soil with a pH of around 7.0.

You can adjust the soil pH by adding lime if it’s too acidic. Loosen the soil to a depth of about 6 inches and remove any weeds or debris. Dig holes for your thyme plants slightly larger than the plant’s root balls. Space them about 6-12 inches apart, as they will spread over time.

Gently remove the thyme plants from their containers and place them in the prepared holes. Fill the holes with soil and pat it down gently to secure the plants. Water the newly planted thyme thoroughly to help settle the soil around the roots.

Initially, water the thyme plants well after planting to establish their roots. Afterward, water them regularly, but allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. Thyme is somewhat drought-tolerant and prefers not to sit in soggy soil.

Best Soil for Red Creeping Thyme

The red creeping thyme prefers consistently moist and well-draining soils. Red creeping thyme prefers loose sandy, loam to rocky soil in rock gardens. Still, your flowering creeping thyme does not do well in wet clay.

Hence, it is best to adjust the soil with an organic matter to allow for the free draining of excess water. Doing this will help prevent root rot from standing water.

Lighting Needs For Red Creeping Thyme

Thymus praecox

The best spot for red creeping thyme is one with full sun to receive at least six hours of sun in the day with partial shade in the afternoon.

When planted as ground cover, we recommend spacing your plants at least ten inches apart as they can grow six inches tall with a spread of ten inches wide. In addition, your plants will help with suppressing weeds.

For growing as a solitary patch, you can give your plants more space to spread out to maintain their size. It also helps to mulch around your plants. One thing is for sure: it is a low-maintenance plant.

Watering Creeping Thyme Plants

As your red creeping thyme prefers well-draining soil, it can dry out fast. So, while your plant is drought tolerant to some extent, never let it dry out completely, especially a young plant.

If not sweltering outside, your outdoor plant will not need much water compared to a potted one. The roots must remain moist but not soggy, as it can lead to root rot.

When grown in containers on the patio in extreme heat, you must water your thyme plant often.

Fertilizer For Garden Thyme Plant

When planting a young plant indoors, it needs no feeding in well-prepared soil. But if grown in poor soil without nutrients, you can provide a slow-release fertilizer at the start of the growing season.

Temperature & Humidity

red creeping thyme @flickr

While recommended for growing zone 4 through 9, you can also find some species that can grow in zones 2 and 3. Still, thyme plants do not enjoy humidity. So, if you notice your plants losing those gorgeous dark green foliage and looking rough, you can trim the affected stems to help improve air circulation.

If you live in a growing zone where the winters are cold, you can grow them as semi-evergreen. Hence, it means the fine texture of foliage will remain green, but it may die back a bit. You can add some mulch after the cold weather sets in. Doing this helps keep the soil at a consistent temperature.

Pruning Red Creeping Thyme

Pruning red creeping thyme as ground covers or in containers is essential to help maintain the shape or encourage bushier growth. It will also help promote more tiny flowers that attract pollinators to the garden. Furthermore, it will help to form a dense mat. Here’s how to prune Red Creeping Thyme:

  • The best time to prune Red Creeping Thyme is after its first flush of blooms, typically in late spring or early summer. This allows the plant to recover and produce new growth before winter.

  • You can use sharp, clean pruning shears or scissors for this task.

  • Trim back the entire plant, cutting about one-third of the overall growth. You can be somewhat aggressive with pruning, as thyme is resilient and will rebound quickly.

  • Focus on removing spent flower spikes and any leggy or straggly growth. Trim the stems back to just above healthy leaves or nodes.

  • Try to maintain a mounded or low, spreading shape as you prune. This helps Red Creeping Thyme retain its attractive appearance and prevents it from becoming too woody in the center.

  • Throughout the growing season, continue to deadhead (remove) spent flower heads as they fade. This encourages the plant to produce more blooms and prevents self-seeding.

  • Regular maintenance pruning can be done to keep the plant tidy and prevent it from becoming overly leggy or sprawling. You can trim back any unruly growth or remove dead or damaged stems.

  • After the growing season has ended in late fall, you can do a final light pruning to tidy up the plant. However, avoid heavy pruning in the fall, as it can leave the plant vulnerable to winter cold.

  • After pruning, water the thyme to help it recover and encourage new growth. Ensure the soil remains well-draining and not overly wet.

How to Propagate Creeping Thyme

The creeping thyme is a fast grower that self-seeds to spread. Hence, you can use different techniques for propagating your mature plants.

By Division

When using the division method, always use a sterilized spade or knife if you plan to plant it in a pot; use well-draining soil with a container with enough drainage holes before dividing your plant and water it well.

  1. Remove the root ball from the ground by digging around it.

  2. Then, cut through the center of the plant by keeping the roots intact where possible.

  3. Cut healthy roots from the parent plant and tap off the old soil.

  4. Place some soil into the bottom of the container and place the root ball in the center, keeping the soil line the same as before. Next, add some soil around the root system and pat the soil down to keep your plant standing.

  5. Water until you find the water running out of the drainage holes and place it in full sun.

Stem Cuttings

You need a mature plant for stem cuttings, not flowering with new leaf growth.

  1. You can cut the stem anywhere about six inches long.

  2. Next, remove the bottom leaves from the stem cuttings and apply some rooting hormone to the cut end.

  3. Plant the stems in the middle of your container and fill them with fresh potting soil.

  4. Place in a sunny spot and keep it watered, keeping the soil consistently moist but not soggy.

When you notice new growth, you can transplant them into the ground if preferred.

Growing Creeping Thyme From Seed

Another great thing is you can grow creeping thyme from seed in a small growing tray before the final frost. Plant seeds on the soil surface and sprinkle some soil over the seeds.

These seeds need light to germinate and only keep the soil moist and in a warm, bright spot. To help moisten the soil, you can use a spray bottle; it should take about 21 days for the seed to germinate.

Growing Red Creeping Thyme in a Container

Growing Red Creeping Thyme in pots can be a great option, especially if you have limited garden space or want to control its spread. Select a container at least 12 inches in diameter with drainage holes at the bottom.

Proper drainage is crucial for preventing waterlogged soil, which thyme dislikes. Use a well-draining potting mix or a mixture of potting soil and perlite or sand. Avoid heavy garden soil, as it can lead to poor drainage.

Fill the container with the potting mix, leaving a few inches of space from the top to allow for watering. Carefully transplant your Red Creeping Thyme from its nursery pot to the container, positioning it at the same depth it was previously planted.

Place the container in a location that receives at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. Thyme loves full sun, which is essential for its growth and blooming. Water the thyme thoroughly after planting to settle the soil around the roots.

Water the container when the top inch of soil feels dry. Ensure that excess water can freely drain from the container to prevent root rot. Red Creeping Thyme in containers can be more exposed to cold temperatures than those planted in the ground.

Consider moving the container to a sheltered area in colder climates or wrapping it in burlap to protect it from harsh winter conditions. Every few years, consider repotting your thyme into a slightly larger container with fresh potting mix to ensure it has enough space and nutrients for healthy growth.

Type of Creeping Thyme

Everyone knows the English thyme, a common one growing in the garden. Here, we have discussed the red creeping thyme known as the wild, but some other cultivars grow well with it.

Spicy Orange Creeping Thyme

Spicy Orange Creeping Thyme

The spicy orange creeping thyme displays pink flowers growing up to four inches tall and is hardy in zones 5 to 9.

White Creeping Thyme

White Creeping Thyme

The creeping thyme also has fragrant foliage with white flowers and can grow up to two inches tall and 18 inches wide. It is hardy in the growing zones 2 to 9. The plant has dark green foliage and also looks fabulous between stepping stones.

Woolly Thyme

Woolly Thyme @flickr

The woolly thyme grows pale pink flowers but is tiny and reaches up to three inches tall and 12 inches wide. You can grow the creeping thyme in zones 5 to 8. As with most of these plants, it has dark green leaves.

Red Creeping Thyme Common Diseases & Pests

ike most other plants, your creeping thyme is resilient against spider mites and other diseases. But your creeping thyme plants do have a few issues.

Woody Thyme

When your plant ages and starts to grow later in the season, it will become leggy and spindly. The best is to prune the woody stems at the end of the growing season. We recommend waiting for the first growing season before you prune them.

Yellowing, Browning Leaves With Drooping Stems

Poor drainage can lead to many problems and can result in yellowing or browning leaves. It helps to decrease your watering schedule and ensure the soil remains fast-draining. Not adhering to these concerns can lead to root rot.

Dried Out Plant

A thyme plant can live up to five years and then start to turn brown or look like it is dying. Still, there can be other causes, from frost, fungal disease, or the lack of sun. If the winter is harsh, leaving dead-looking branches, you can remove them in early spring.

Frequently Asked Questions

Red Creeping Thyme is a low-growing herbaceous plant that forms a dense mat of tiny, aromatic leaves. It produces small, vibrant red or pink flowers in late spring to early summer.

es, Red Creeping Thyme is an excellent choice for ground cover. It spreads and forms a dense carpet-like mat, making it ideal for filling gaps in garden beds, pathways, or rock gardens.

Yes, Red Creeping Thyme is an edible herb and can be used in cooking. It has a mild thyme flavor with a hint of lemon. Use fresh or dried in various dishes like soups, stews, roasted meats, and marinades.

While it’s possible to grow Red Creeping Thyme in a pot indoors, it thrives best in outdoor conditions with full sun. Indoor growth may not be as vigorous or produce as many flowers.

Red Creeping Thyme is considered deer-resistant due to its aromatic foliage, which deer tend to avoid. However, deer may nibble on it during extreme hunger or drought.

Red Creeping Thyme is generally disease-resistant. To prevent potential issues, avoid overwatering, maintain good air circulation, and promptly prune away any dead or diseased growth.

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