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red creeping thyme lawn

If you’re searching for a beautiful, low-maintenance alternative to traditional grass, a red creeping thyme lawn may be the perfect solution for your home or garden. Renowned for its stunning magenta-red blooms in early summer, red creeping thyme creates a vibrant carpet of colour that adds visual interest and texture to paths, driveways, and open garden spaces. Its fragrant foliage, drought tolerance, and resistance to foot traffic make it an increasingly popular lawn replacement in New Zealand gardens.

Thymus coccineus plants with pink flowers growing between paving stones.

Thymus coccineus

Thymus coccineus, also known as Red Creeping Thyme, is a hardy, low growing perennial groundcover admired for its vibrant magenta red flowers. Flowering profusely in summer, it creates a carpet of colour that attracts bees and pollinators.

From $11.95

Suited to regions: Subtropical, Temperate
Plant type: Perennials
Height: 5 cm
Spread: 30 cm
Flowering time: Summer
Garden uses: Borders, Containers, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Patios, Pool areas
Garden styles: Backyard, City & Courtyard, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern, Rock, Tropical
An immaculate Fine Fescue lawn in a modern and formal garden.

Fine Fescue Lawn Seed

5 from 1 customers

Fine Fescue lawn seed is ideal for homeowners seeking a lush, fine-textured lawn that thrives in shaded areas and requires minimal maintenance. This blend of Chewings Fescue and Creeping Red Fescue forms a dense, soft mat of grass with needle-like leaves, offering an aesthetically pleasing and comfortable surface underfoot.

From $28.95

thymus-emerald-carpet--1
Thymus 'Emerald Carpet'

Thymus 'Emerald Carpet' is a popular creeping thyme valued for its dense mat of rich green foliage and excellent groundcover qualities. This...

From$11.95
Lagerstroemia 'Crimson Red' showy red flowers.
Lagerstroemia 'Crimson Red'

Lagerstroemia ‘Crimson Red’ is a striking crepe myrtle renowned for its deep crimson summer flowers and attractive upright tree form. Flowering...

From$30.29
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Lawn Pro Fungus Control

This liquid formulation is used to control and protect against fungal diseases in lawn and soil. It protects against lawn diseases such as red...

From$130.90
Escallonia 'Red Knight' growing as a border around the base of a tree.
Escallonia 'Red Knight'

Escallonia 'Red Knight' is a vibrant evergreen shrub prized for its masses of rich red flowers and dense glossy foliage. This hardy variety produces...

From$16.95
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Wetting Agent For Lawns

Wetcit is a wetting and spreading agent which is designed to improve the effectiveness of agrichemicals. When used with glyphosate it improves the...

From$95.20
Callistemon 'Rocky Rambler' ground cover plant with creeping stems with green foliage and red flowers.
Callistemon 'Rocky Rambler' (Red Bottlebrush)

Callistemon 'Rocky Rambler' is a compact, spreading bottlebrush known for its vibrant red flower spikes and fine evergreen foliage. This variety...

From$27.53
Pseudowintera 'Red Glow' rose-coloured foliage.
Pseudowintera Red Glow'

Pseudowintera 'Red Glow' is a bright and vibrant NZ native shrub. New foliage emerges rose-pink and ages to become a fresh green colour. The leaf...

From$27.53
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Leptospermum 'Red Falls'

Leptospermum 'Red Falls' is a striking evergreen shrub admired for its cascading growth habit and masses of vibrant red flowers through spring and...

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Carex flagellifera Red plants.
Carex flagellifera Red

Carex flagellifera Red is a NZ native, ornamental grass grown for its colourful and attractive foliage. It produces slender and lush, copper-red...

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Callistemon citrinus 'Red Cluster' small tree with masses of red, pendulous flowers.
Callistemon 'Red Cluster' (Red Bottlebrush)

Callistemon 'Red Cluster' is a striking bottlebrush variety valued for its clusters of vivid red flower spikes and dense evergreen foliage. Flowering...

From$37.19
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Malus 'Red Jade'

Malus 'Red Jade' is a graceful weeping crabapple tree admired for its cascading branches, masses of white spring blossom, colourful red ornamental...

From$387.55
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Callistemon 'Red Alert'

Callistemon 'Red Alert' is a compact evergreen shrub admired for its brilliant red bottlebrush flowers that appear from spring into summer. The vivid...

From$27.53
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Lawn Pro Protect

This granulated product is used to control and protect against insect pests in lawn and soil. It will provide long-term control of insect grubs...

From$152.32
Buddleia 'Royal Red' dark pink flowers and grey-green foliage.
Buddleia 'Royal Red'

Buddleia ‘Royal Red’ is a bold deciduous shrub celebrated for its rich red crimson flower spikes and sweet summer fragrance. Flowering over an...

From$27.53
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Gazania 'New Day Red Stripe'

Gazania 'New Day Red Stripe' is a colourful perennial valued for its distinctive striped flowers, compact habit, and long flowering performance. The...

From$20.63
Coprosma Red Rocks with colourful foliage in a garden.
Coprosma 'Red Rocks'

Coprosma 'Red Rocks' is a hardy NZ native shrub known for its rich red toned foliage and tough spreading habit. Naturally found in coastal...

From$17.95
Thymus citriodorus 'Aurea' with fantastic yellow foliage growing over a wall.
Thymus citriodorus 'Aurea' (Citrus Thyme)

Thymus citriodorus 'Aurea' is a beautiful golden leaved form of Lemon Thyme valued for its fragrant foliage, culinary uses, and ornamental appeal...

From$11.95
Phormium 'Rainbow Red' red and purple striped foliage.
Phormium 'Rainbow Red'

Phormium 'Rainbow Red' is a vibrant New Zealand native flax admired for its bold, arching leaves in shades of bronze, red, and pink. This striking...

From$249.95
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Acer 'Red Sunset'

Acer 'Red Sunset' is one of the finest deciduous maples for autumn colour, producing a spectacular display of brilliant scarlet and crimson foliage...

From$399.95
A Loropetalum 'Red Temple' plant with dark purple-red foliage and elegant, pink flowers.
Loropetalum 'Red Temple'

Loropetalum 'Red Temple' produces mildly fragrant, pink-red flowers through winter, which are both unusual and appealing. The foliage on this bushy...

From$28.91
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Camellia Roma Red

Camellia 'Roma Red' is a striking evergreen shrub known for its rich red blooms and glossy green foliage. It delivers bold winter to spring colour in...

From$34.95
Clivia miniata 'Red' plants with elegant, red flowers.
Clivia miniata 'Red'

Clivia miniata 'Red' is a striking evergreen perennial prized for its bold red trumpet shaped flowers that appear in late winter and spring. The...

From$20.01
Chamaemelum nobile plants with white flowers and lush, green foliage.
Chamaemelum nobile (Chamomile)

Chamaemelum nobile (Lawn Chamomile, Roman Chamomile) is a low growing evergreen herb valued for its fragrant feathery foliage, delicate daisy like...

From$15.95
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Callisia repens

Callisia repens goes by several common names such as the Bubbles Plant, Turtle Vine, and Pin Panther Plant. The Turtle Vine is a very popular indoor...

From$24.95
Acer palmatum 'Red Emperor' specimen tree in a mixed planting.
Acer 'Red Emperor'

Acer 'Red Emperor' is a striking Japanese maple valued for its rich deep red foliage and strong upright form. This deciduous tree performs...

From$349.95
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Rubus pentalobus (Creeping Raspberry)

Rubus pentalobus is a hardy, low growing groundcover known for its attractive textured foliage, small white flowers, and bright red berries. This...

From$35.81
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Grevillea 'Red Clusters'

Grevillea 'Red Clusters' is a vibrant evergreen shrub that produces masses of rich red flower clusters throughout the year. Its fine foliage and...

From$24.95
Photinia 'Red Robin' hedge with colourful foliage.
Photinia 'Red Robin'

Photinia ‘Red Robin’ is a popular evergreen shrub renowned for its vibrant red new growth, which contrasts beautifully with the mature glossy green...

From$18.95
The best lawn fertiliser in NZ with moss killer.
Lawn Fertiliser

Achieve a vibrant, healthy lawn with our premium Lawn Fertiliser, specially formulated for New Zealand conditions. This fertiliser not only...

From$5.95
A stunning Amenity Ryegrass lawn.
Amenity Ryegrass Seed (Lawn Seed)

Rye Grass Seed lawns are quick to establish and features dark green leaves year-round. Our Amenity Rye Grass is a popular turf variety that is...

From$16.95
Thymus coccineus

Did you find what you are looking for?

You might be interested in exploring related Latin Names - Callistemon, Escallonia, and Lagerstroemia, or related Categories - Fungicides, Wetting agents, and Grass Seed.

Search red creeping thyme lawn

Why Choose a Red Creeping Thyme Lawn?

Establishing a red creeping thyme lawn offers more than just aesthetic appeal. This groundcover is ideal for eco-conscious gardeners as it requires minimal mowing, fertilising, or watering once established. Red creeping thyme thrives in well-drained soils and full sun, making it perfect for dry, sunny spots where traditional lawns may struggle. Its ground-hugging habit means it naturally suppresses weeds and reduces the need for chemical herbicides.

How to Plant and Care for Red Creeping Thyme

Preparation is key to a thriving red creeping thyme lawn. Start by clearing the area of weeds and improving drainage if your soil tends toward heavy clay. Plant plugs or plants about 20 cm apart to ensure even coverage, and keep the area lightly watered until the thyme is well-rooted. While red creeping thyme is hardy and drought-tolerant, young plants will benefit from some extra moisture during their first season. For best results, choose high-quality varieties like Thymus praecox Coccineus (Red Creeping Thyme), which is known for its vivid colour and robust growth.

Red Creeping Thyme vs Traditional Lawns

Compared to standard grass lawns, red creeping thyme lawns save both time and resources. You’ll mow less often because thyme stays low and dense. Its purple-red flowers attract bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects, supporting local biodiversity. If you want a different thyme variety, consider Thymus Ruby Carpet (Creeping Thyme Ruby Carpet), which shares similar qualities and groundcover capabilities. If you’re still weighing options between grass and thyme, our Fine Fescue Lawn Seed might be the right grass choice for a fine-textured, easy-care lawn.

Complementary Plantings for Your Red Creeping Thyme Lawn

Red creeping thyme looks exceptional paired with plants that accentuate its colours and texture. For bold contrast, try bordering your thyme lawn with the striking foliage of Photinia Super Red (Red Robin) or the dramatic summer blooms of Lagerstroemia 'Crimson Red'. Both options add year-round interest and extra curb appeal to your outdoor space.

Transform Your Lawn with Creeping Thyme Today

Making the switch to a red creeping thyme lawn is a practical and visually rewarding way to create a resilient, low-maintenance garden space. Explore premium options like Thymus praecox Coccineus (Red Creeping Thyme) and discover how easily you can achieve a beautiful, evergreen carpet that thrives season after season. Whether you’re planning a complete lawn replacement or just adding pathways and accents, creeping thyme is a smart, sustainable choice for New Zealand gardeners.

Contact us

Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.

Illustration of plant leaves.
From trusted favourites like Cereus tetragonus and Agapanthus 'Gayles Lilac' to fresh faces like Acer negundo 'Violaceum', Feijoa 'Kaiteri', and Quercus suber — we’ve got you covered.
–The Plant Company

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