Thymus 'Coccineus' Red Creeping Thyme Lawn
Best low-maintenance ground cover for eco-conscious gardeners seeking pollinator-friendly lawn alternatives.
Transform your garden with Thymus 'Coccineus' Red Creeping Thyme Lawn, a vibrant, low-growing ground cover perfect for sunny spots. This fragrant thyme forms a dense mat, ideal as a lawn alternative or between pavers, and produces stunning magenta-red blooms in late spring. It's drought-resistant once established, attracting beneficial pollinators. In warmer climates, it offers year-round evergreen interest, making it a beautiful and low-maintenance choice for borders, containers, or as a fragrant living carpet.
$11.95
Owner Satisfaction
4.5
/ 5
Category Rank
1769
/ 2696
#1769 in Plants
Price vs Category Average
-73%
Below average
Genus
Thymus
/ Thymus
Who it's for
- Nature lovers wanting to attract pollinators to their garden
- Busy homeowners seeking a beautiful, low-effort lawn alternative
- Eco-conscious gardeners designing water-wise, drought-resistant landscapes
Who should skip it
- Low-maintenance gardeners unwilling to perform regular hand-weeding
- Impatient gardeners needing immediate, full-coverage ground cover
- Families requiring a durable lawn for high-traffic play areas
Performance breakdown
Ground cover density
Forms a thick, weed-suppressing mat that effectively carpets bare soil.
Pollinator attraction
Magenta blooms act as a high-traffic magnet for local bees.
Drought tolerance
Establishes deep roots to thrive with minimal supplemental summer watering.
Foot traffic resilience
Handles light stepping well but prefers to avoid heavy daily paths.
Maintenance ease
Requires almost no pruning or fussing once the plants take hold.
Aromatic impact
Releases a pleasant, herbal scent whenever the foliage is brushed against.
Key Specs
Genus
Thymus
Species
praecox
Item Form
1-Quart
Mature Height
4 in
Mature Width
18 in
Light Requirements
Full Sun
Moisture Requirements
Moist, well-drained
USDA Hardiness Zones
4-9
Features
- Forms a dense, fragrant mat.
- Vibrant magenta-red blooms.
- Tolerates light foot traffic.
- Drought resistant once established.
- Attracts bees and butterflies.
- Evergreen in warmer zones.
- Easy care, low maintenance.
- Fragrant foliage when crushed.
What customers say
Red Creeping Thyme is consistently praised for its exceptional quality and reliability. Customers report robust plants arriving healthy, establishing quickly, and spreading vigorously to create a dense, colorful ground cover. The vibrant red blooms are a significant attraction, fulfilling expectations for aesthetic appeal and effective coverage. While full coverage may require some patience, the overall sentiment confirms this thyme is a dependable, high value choice for challenging areas. It offers excellent hardiness and requires minimal maintenance once established, making it a smart, low effort addition to any garden.
Know before you buy
It is an excellent alternative to traditional grass, especially in sunny areas where you want a low-maintenance ground cover. While it tolerates light foot traffic, it is best suited for areas that aren't subject to heavy, daily use.
Thymus 'Coccineus' requires full sun, which means at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily. If planted in partial shade, the plant will likely become leggy and produce fewer magenta-red blooms.
In warmer USDA hardiness zones, this variety remains evergreen, providing color year-round. In colder zones, the foliage may die back or turn bronze during the winter months before returning in the spring.
The most important factor is drainage. Ensure your soil is well-draining, as this plant does not like to sit in waterlogged conditions, which can lead to root rot.
Once established, it is quite drought-resistant and prefers to dry out slightly between waterings. You will only need to provide supplemental water during extended periods of extreme heat or drought.
Since each plant reaches a mature width of about 18 inches, you should space them roughly 12 to 15 inches apart. This allows them to spread and knit together into a solid, uniform carpet over time.
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$12