500 seeds Creeping Thyme RED / SCARLET Perennial Ground Cover Fragrant HERB Fragrant Summer Blooms Non-GMO Pure Seed – Non-GMO – Fresh – No Filler PRODUCT INFORMATION Creeping Thyme, Perennial, Thymus praecox ‘Coccineus’ There is a lot to love about Red /Scarlet Creeping Thyme. In early summer Red /Scarlet Creeping Thyme covers the floor of your garden in a sea of magenta or lavender-red. A low, mat-forming plant with fragrant foliage as well as beautiful blooms, it is easy and irresistible in any sunny setting. Just a few inches high, the plant is densely covered with tiny, dark green, shiny leaves that are intensely aromatic when crushed—plant them between paving stones and enjoy their fragrance every time you pass by. You'll find yourself in wonderland with the thick carpet of fragrant vivid blooms carpeting your garden. Plant uses: Alpine Rock, Lawn Substitute, Between Flagstones, Attracts Butterflies, Containers, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Edging, Evergreen, Fragrant, Ground Cover Evergreen in the South, semievergreen in the North. Creeping Thyme will start blooming in late spring, reaching 12-18 inches wide and only a couple of inches tall. Thymus or thymon is Greek for "courage." Through the centuries it has been used for traditions relating to this theme. Roman soldiers bathed in thyme water, European knights carried thyme tokens. Other folklore talks of thyme as being the home of fairies. Butterflies love creeping thyme. The flowers attract pollinators, and are especially important for butterflies. Two species of butterflies—the small blue butterfly and the giant blue butterfly—lay their eggs in the flowers of creeping thyme. The larvae will subsequently develop into adult butterflies after feeding on the leaves. Creeping thyme can grow normally in USDA zones 4 to 9, though this may vary depending on the variety. Creeping thyme plants are great for decorating your rock garden, walkways, and stepping stones, but could also be used as a border plant for your garden because they act as deer and rabbit deterrents. There are a few things you must take into consideration when planting creeping thyme. Though this plant can grow in various conditions, it prefers well-draining, nutrient-rich, and loamy soil. However, it can also grow in different soil types, including sand and rocky soil. They thrive in alkaline soil, so make sure to check the pH levels before planting. You can grow creeping thyme from either seeds or cuttings. You should take the cuttings in early summer if you want to plant them; however, if you choose to grow the plant from seeds I would suggest you start the seeds indoors in the early spring. Once the seeds have sprouted, transplant your new creeper to the garden – just make sure that the last frost date has passed. FAST FACTS Genus Thymus Species praecox Variety 'Coccineus' Zone 4 - 9 Bloom Start to End: Late Spring - Mid Summer Habit Prostrate, Hanging Plant Height 2 in - 4 in Plant Width 12 in - 18 in Additional Characteristics: Easy Care Plants, Flower, Bloom First Year, Fragrance Bloom Color: Red Light Requirements: Full Sun Moisture Requirements: Moist, well-drained Resistance: Drought Tolerant Soil Tolerance: Normal, loamy Soil PH Category: Alkaline Soil, Neutral Soil Hardiness Zones: 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b Uses: Containers, Border Plant, Edging Plant, Groundcover, Landscape, Ornamental, Outdoor, Border, Ground Cover, Foliage Interest Uses Notes: use in rock gardens, as ground cover or between paving stones. Maintenance Notes: Trim stems as necessary to control growth. Features: Fragrant Foliage, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Salt Tolerant, Small/Miniature, Perennial, Short height HOW TO PLANT CREEPING THYME SEEDS DETAILED CREEPING THYME PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS 1. Start indoors 6-8 weeks prior to your last frost. 2. Soil Temperature: 65-70 degrees 3. Average Germination Time: 14-21 Days at 65-70 degrees 4. Planting Time: Sow Creeping Thyme seeds in starter trays 6-8 weeks prior to the end of frost season for transplanting out in the garden. 5. Soil Depth: Press the seeds into the soil but do not cover. Seeds need light to germinate. 6. Moisture: Keep the seeds moist until germination. 7. Getting ready to plant outside: Harden off the seedlings for 7-10 days prior to transplanting outside. Then transplant out into the garden bed. Add compost at the time of planting to enrich the soil. 8. Planting Location: Plant Thyme in full sun and in fast-draining soils. Thyme does not like wet soils and may rot in soils that hold water. 9. Plant Spacing: 6-8” apart. 10. Light Preference: Sun/Part-shade. In very hot climates thyme will need part-shade to do well. 11. Soil Requirements: Creeping Thyme grows best in light, dry, well-drained soil. Note: Creeping Thyme will become woody and needs to be divided or replaced after 3-4 Years.. STARTING CREEPING THYME SEEDS OUTDOORS Do so at your own risk, Creeping Thyme seeds cannot be allowed to dry out before germinating and they take 7-21 days to germinate. 1. Plant creeping thyme seeds directly outside after the danger of frost has passed. 2. Prepare a seed bed, loosen the soil and remove weeds. 3. Scatter the Creeping Thyme ground cover seeds evenly and press them lightly into the soil. Mixing with 5 parts play sand to one part seeds will help distribute them more evenly. 4. Keep the soil consistently moist, but not soaked. Do not allow seeds to dry out. These are tiny tiny seeds so if the top of the soil dries out the seeds will dry out. 5. Thyme prefers a sandy, dry soil. Avoid planting in heavy, wet soils. Creeping Thyme is a beautiful ground cover, between stepping stones or rock crevices, and to edge garden beds.