Thyme Coccineus

The best time to harvest aromatic leaves and flowers for drying is just before full bloom or at the start of flowering (usually in June). At that time, they contain the highest concentration of essential oils. Trim only the top soft, herbaceous shoots. Never cut too deeply into the old woody center, as the plant would then struggle to recover and would do so very slowly. Dry by spreading them out loosely in a thin layer in a dry, shaded place.

Yes, both the flowers and the aromatic leaves of this thyme are completely edible and extremely tasty. In the kitchen, you can use them to season roasted meats, grilled vegetables, summer salads, or to prepare medicinal herbal teas. Tiny sprigs with pink flowers also serve as a beautiful edible decoration for desserts.

A huge advantage of this cultivar is its incredible resilience and health. Under normal circumstances, it suffers from absolutely no diseases and is not threatened by pests. Furthermore, the strong aromatic oils contained in the leaves naturally repel many types of unwanted insects.

Older and sufficiently grown thyme mats can be easily propagated vegetatively, i.e., by dividing the clumps. The ideal time for this is early spring (March to April) or late summer after flowering. Simply use a sharp spade to separate a part of the plant along with its root ball and plant it immediately in a new, sunny location.

Absolutely! Flowering thyme is a literal magnet for bees, bumblebees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. Its rich crimson flowers offer a wealth of nectar, which will significantly support biodiversity in your garden.

Thyme is not very suitable for traditional cutting for large vases, as it is a creeping perennial that reaches a height of only 5 to 10 centimeters. Nevertheless, you can use tiny fragrant sprigs in small, low table arrangements or summer mini-bouquets, where they will reliably scent the entire room.

The 'Coccineus' cultivar will delight you with its small flowers from June to August. It is characterized by striking crimson-pink flowers that contrast beautifully with the small green leaves. Throughout the summer, the plant also releases an intense and very pleasant fragrance.

This fragrant herb thrives best in full sun. It loves warm, sunny locations, so south-facing slopes, dry stone walls, or sunny rock gardens are ideal. The soil should be well-drained, lean, and sandy. Conversely, heavy and waterlogged clay soils do not suit it at all.

Yes, Thymus serpyllum 'Coccineus' is also perfectly suited for growing in decorative containers, troughs, or window boxes. It is an excellent choice for sunny balconies or terraces. However, do not forget to provide good drainage at the bottom of the container (e.g., expanded clay pebbles) and use a permeable substrate mixed with sand so that water always drains well after watering.

If you want to create a beautifully dense, continuous green cushion, we recommend planting the seedlings with 35 cm spacing. You will need approximately 9 plants per square meter. They will grow and merge quickly, which will help suppress weed growth.

Thyme is extremely undemanding regarding moisture and tolerates long-term drought very well. Under normal conditions, natural rainfall is more than sufficient. We recommend watering only immediately after planting until the plant is well-established, and perhaps during extreme summer heatwaves. Overwatering is much more harmful to it than drought.

This thyme handles winter with ease. Its hardiness reaches zone 5a, which means it withstands frost down to -28 °C without any issues. No special protection, such as evergreen branches or covers, is necessary. It will turn green quickly and vigorously again in the spring.

If you notice that the green cushions of thyme are turning black, softening, or rotting for no apparent reason, excessive moisture is almost always to blame. The plant strictly dislikes long-term waterlogging and heavy, poorly drained clay soils. Limit watering to an absolute minimum, and if the soil is too dense, carefully dig up the plant and mix a larger amount of coarse sand and gravel into the roots.

Definitely yes. 'Coccineus' thyme is classified as a plant with beginner-level difficulty. It does not require any regular fertilization, complex shaping, or frequent watering. You just need to find a sunny spot with well-drained soil, and it will more or less take care of itself.