Thymus serpyllum Coccineus
Notify MeThymus serpyllum Coccineus is more commonly known as Red Creeping Thyme and is as its name suggests, a versatile and vibrant creeping groundcover. This aromatic culinary herb forms a mat of tough and fragrant foliage with crimson-red flowers that bloom from spring through to late summer.
Red Creeping Thyme is drought-tolerant and an excellent choice for ground cover, rock gardens, between pavers, or cascading down over retaining walls and rocks.
Grows to a mature height is 5cm and 50cm wide.
Trimming: Shear lightly after flowering in late summer to keep the mat dense and tidy. Cut back to green growth only, as thyme is slow to reshoot from old woody stems. Trim back any growth spreading beyond its space during the growing season.
Fertilising: Feed sparingly. A light application of balanced slow-release fertiliser in early spring is enough. Rich soil and regular feeding produce soft, leggy growth and fewer flowers.
Watering: Water regularly through the establishment phase, particularly over the first summer. Once established, Thymus serpyllum 'Coccineus' is very drought-tolerant and needs water only in prolonged dry spells. Free-draining soil is essential, and wet feet in winter is the most common cause of plant loss.
Pest Control: Generally trouble-free. Monitor for spider mites in hot, dry conditions and aphids on soft spring growth. Slugs and snails may damage new plantings in damp or shaded sites. Treat pest problems with insecticidal soap or neem oil, and use bait for slugs and snails while plants establish.
Disease Management: Root rot is the main risk and is caused by poor drainage or overwatering. Improve drainage with grit or plant on a raised bed or slope. In warm, humid conditions watch for fungal dieback in the centre of the mat. Allow space between plants for air circulation, water at soil level rather than overhead, and keep bark or compost mulch away from the crown. Use grit or fine gravel instead. Remove any affected growth promptly.
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