Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Coccineus Creeping Thyme: A Magenta Mat Beneath the Lavender
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Coccineus creeping thyme is one of the deepest-colored creeping thymes. It forms a flat, dense mat of tiny, glossy, dark green leaves just 2 to 4 inches tall, and from early through midsummer the mat vanishes under bright magenta-red flowers. In fall the leaves take on bronze tones.
It loves the same sun and lean soil as lavender and blooms right alongside it. Step on it and it smells like thyme, which is a nice reward for missing the stepping stone.
Coccineus at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Thymus praecox 'Coccineus' |
| Flowers | Bright magenta red in small rounded heads |
| Foliage | Tiny, glossy, dark green; evergreen to semi-evergreen, bronze in fall and winter |
| Size | 2 to 4 inches tall, about 12 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts early June, peaks late June |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3 to 8 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Wildlife | Excellent for pollinators; deer resistant |
A living carpet for the lavender bed
Thyme and lavender are both Mediterranean-style herbs in the mint family, and they want the same things: sun, sharp drainage and no fussing. Coccineus makes a low, fragrant edging at the feet of lavender plants, and because it blooms in June, the magenta mat and the purple wands peak together. Add bees working both, and the bed hums.
Leave a few inches of bare soil or gravel right around each lavender crown so the base stays dry. Beyond that, let the thyme fill the gaps between plants, along the bed edge or between pavers on the path. The Companion Plant Planner can help you plan edging and paths.
Planting and care
- Planting: set the bare root plant at the same depth it grew, firm it in and water. Gritty soil helps it root fast.
- Soil: average to lean and well-drained. It struggles only where heat meets wet soil.
- Water: drought tolerant once established.
- Shearing: trim lightly after bloom to keep the mat dense.
- Foot traffic: handles light traffic between stepping stones, not a busy lawn path.
- Winter: hardy in Michigan. Avoid heavy mulch over the mat, which can rot it.
In humid summers with poor drainage the center can die out. Gritty soil and good airflow prevent most of that.
A thyme you can taste
The leaves are edible and taste like thyme, though milder than common culinary thyme. Snip a few sprigs for a garnish or a pan of roasted vegetables. It is grown mainly as an ornamental groundcover, so for serious cooking a culinary thyme is the better choice.
About the bare root plant
Coccineus is offered as a bare root plant, an easy way to tuck thyme between stones or along a lavender edge. See the product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
Can I walk on it?
Lightly. It tolerates occasional footsteps between stepping stones and releases its scent when stepped on.
How fast does it spread?
Its creeping stems root as they go, filling about a foot across. Plant several for a quicker carpet.
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