Red creep thyme , or Thymus praecox , grows quick to make a thick carpet of humble leaves and bright flowers . The soft light-green leaves give off a pleasant smell when they are match or crushed .
In early summer , hundreds of undimmed pinkish and red flowers heyday , enhancing the already pleasant aroma . Butterflies and bee are drawn to the peak because of the nectar they produce .
ruddy creeping thyme is an excellent grim - maintenance addition to any garden . As it spread , it grows obtusely , crowding out undesirable widow’s weeds .
Read this whole article to learn how to take great care of red creeping thyme so it maturate well in your garden .
With its carpet of colorful salad days and barbed fragrance , red crawl thyme is a beloved garden plant . But where did this various groundcover in the beginning hail from ? I adjudicate to stab into the native origins of redness creep thyme to unveil the story behind its botanical roots .
Overview of Red Creeping Thyme’s Native Range
reddened pussyfoot thyme ( Thymus praecox ) is native to a area spanning part of Europe , Western Asia , and Northern Africa . Some key areas within its aboriginal range include :
The species has naturalized beyond this native range in locations with interchangeable climate circumstance like North America , Australia , and New Zealand . But genetically , its origins trace back to the Old World .
Tracing the Etymology and Meaning of “Thyme”
The name “ thyme ” extend clue about the ancient history of this dear herb
The word thyme derives from the Hellenic term “ thymos . ” Thymos referred to the herbaceous plant ’s impregnable redolent quality and fragrancy .
Thyme ’s genus name Thymus also comes from the Greek thymos . So from its very descent , this plant life was know for its signature perfume .
During medieval times , horse and warriors would often carry or wear sprigs of thyme . The herb represented braveness , strength , and courage due to its affiliation with the terminus thymos .
So the name “ thyme ” reflect both its fragrance and its historic ties to virtue and valor .
Why Is Creeping Thyme Called “Creeping”?
Red cower thyme earned the descriptive term “ sneak ” in its vernacular name thanks to its spreading , modest - growing nature .
The species produces long trailing stems that carry horizontally outward from the cardinal plant . These creeping stem root themselves as they mature , allowing the thyme to spread into mats or carpet .
This spread out , fawn habit covers ground densely and prevent filth erosion . But it also means mouse thyme can be invasive in the garden !
The Origins of the Taxonomic Name Thymus Praecox
The species name praecox provide more clue about this industrial plant ’s pedigree . Praecox more or less translate from Latin as “ very too soon . ”
This refers to red creeping thyme ’s flowering wont . The species reliably bloom copiously in early summertime or even late spring .
So the Romance name Thymus praecox identifies one of its most iconic traits – its other season profusion of coloured bloom .
Native Wildlife Relationships and Uses
In its aboriginal European and Mediterranean region , red creep thyme has many traditional the States :
Beekeepers favour it for its profuse ambrosia production that put up dear bees .
The herbaceous plant is used for culinary , medicative , and ornamental purposes .
Its aroma and nectar attract beneficial pollinator and butterflies .
Mat - forming emergence cater natural covering for small wildlife and help prevent grunge erosion .
So in its native range , this versatile plant act as many ecological function and has developed symbiotic relationships with both animals and mass over centuries .
Introducing Red Creeping Thyme Beyond Its Native Region
While red creeping thyme ’s storey get in Europe / Western Asia , humans have go around it far beyond those edge .
The herbaceous plant is now vulgar in flowered trades and garden across North America , Australia , and New Zealand . It has become naturalized in these area , mean it grows wild in some field .
Its popularity as a hardy , attractive groundcover makes it a go - to choice for gardeners worldwide . As with many favorite garden plant , it has been shared globally for its beauty and utility .
Why Red Creeping Thyme Thrives Across Diverse Regions
The key traits that provide red creeping thyme to perform well across immensely different mood zona let in :
Adaptability to a range of soil types and moisture levels
Tolerates drought , heat , humidity , and moth-eaten with daring to zone 4
down - alimony growth riding habit once established
power to spread and spread efficiently
These trait made it a survivor in its aboriginal region . They now help it deliver the goods far beyond its original species range – on whole new continents !
Celebrating a European Native Treasured Worldwide
While Europe and Western Asia were the rocker for violent creeping thyme , the species ’ charm and resiliency have since allowed its reach to span the globe .
We now get to love this Mediterranean native for its decorative appeal , culinary uses , aromatherapy potential , and wildlife support far from its original home . cherry cower thyme remains beloved in gardens worldwide .
So next time you admire its carpet of semblance or breathe its lovely scent , appreciate that you are enjoying a tough , adaptable flora that has successfully expanded from its aboriginal region to yours !
How to Plant and Grow Red Creeping Thyme
Choose a cheery location where they can expand . Although creeping thyme can tolerate some refinement , peak blossoming requires full sun i. e. 6 + hours of sunlight per solar day ) . Next , ensure that the soil drain is great .
bring compost , foliage mold , or soil conditioner to the filth can make it lighter . tot up grit to mud soils can make them less thick .
How to Plant Red Creeping Thyme from Seed
Red creeping thyme grows quickly and has self - seed characteristic . Once instal outside , creeping thyme reproduces by ego - seeding and keeps growing and enhancing the landscape .
After the last frost , plant the scarlet creeping thyme germ straight off in the basis . you could also start the seeds indoors in tray filled with salutary potting mix before the six - week countdown to the end of frost time of year .
Cover these cum with soil that is no more than 1/16 of an column inch abstruse . They need light to grow . keep up temperatures between 65 and 75 degree Fahrenheit and keep the soil moist but not wet .
In 14 to 21 day , the seeds will sprout , and newfangled growth will appear . Do ‘ thinning ’ by proceed only healthy seedling and removing the weaker unity .
Once hoarfrost is no longer a threat , move the seedlings to a heavy container or imbed them straight in the garden once they have grown roots and become big enough .
Red creeping thyme and ground cover thyme varieties
FAQ
Is red creeping thyme trespassing ?
What ground cover is aboriginal to North America ?
Is red fawn thyme toxic to dog ?
Where does red creeping thyme originate good ?
Where does Marxist creeping thyme grow ?
The plant is a member of the mint kin , and it is aboriginal to the Mediterranean region , where it grow idle in rocky and dry surface area . The Coccineus Group is often also list as Thymus praecox ‘ Coccineus or Thymus praecox subsp . arcticus . What is Special about Red Creeping Thyme ?
Is reddened creeping thyme a good industrial plant ?
Creeping thyme , with its semi - evergreen foliage , is an excellent matting - forming landscape gardening bush . And when red creeping thyme efflorescence in summer , it transforms garden with a carpet of dark pinko , magenta , and mysterious red chromaticity . The beauty of Bolshevik crawl thyme is that it is low maintenance and require footling effort to grow .
Is creeping thyme a perennial ?
Learn how to constitute , grow , and care for cower thyme . If you have n’t heard about creeping thyme , you may have been living under a rock — where this works flourish . Several phallus of the genus Thymus are called cringe thyme , but they are all perennial with a low , distribute form and make splendid ground cover .
When should I establish carmine creep thyme ?
Plant red creeping thyme either in spring or in drop — it ’s tough for young plant to get show in summertime ’s heat . Spacing bet on what size plants you start with , how gravid your space is and how quickly you require the landscape to fill with growth .
