Thyme Purple Creeping

Thyme Purple Creeping 

Thyme Purple Creeping . One of the best low growing ground cover perennial plants available, producing a matt forming carpet of dense dark green foliage covered with violet & purple shaded flowers from May To Aug.  Reaches no more than 10cm high and spreads up to 30cm.  The plant is extremely robust and will tolerate light walking on when used amongst patio stones or near walkways giving off its scent when disturbed. No maintenance is required (mowing or watering once established) and the plant is winter hardy in the European conditions. Will tolerate all but the heaviest wet soil types and the flowers prove extremely attractive to bees and butterflies..  As a herb the leaves can be utilised as per normal thyme, although they are harder to pick and is the classic herb used in ‘bouquet garni’.

Often utilised as a companion plant as it attracts many beneficial insects whilst in flower.

Cultivation Advice Thyme Purple Creeping 

• The seed is best sown in spring to early summer or early autumn onwards around 13c, it will not germinate well in very warm conditions.   Please note the seed is extremely small and mixing with some horticultural sand may help in sowing.
• Seed is sown on the surface and gently pressed into the growing medium.  Do not cover as the seed needs light to germinate.
• Cover the growing container with plastic or diffused glass until germinated, which will take 14-28 days depending on conditions.
• When large enough to handle transplant to trays or pots to grow on.
• Harden any plants off gradually before planting outside .  Plants should be spaced 30cm apart and appreciate some grit in the planting hole if the soil is very heavy or wet.
• During the first year the plants will need weeding whilst they get established.