German chamomile is grown for tea and perennial Roman chamomile is mostly a groundcover.
There are two similar plants that go by the common name chamomile.
It has white flowers but with showy yellow centers.
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
Where to Plant Chamomile
A location withfull sunis best.
The soil should bewell-drainedwith a slightly acidic to neutral pH.
The low-growing Roman chamomile makes a fragrant perennial groundcover.
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
Plant it in arock gardenwhere it will soften hard edges and slowly spread to cover large swaths of soil.
It can even be used as an aromatic grass substitute for lawns.
It tolerates minimal foot traffic, though, so plant it in areas that are primarily viewed.
Credit: Celia Pearson
Place the plant in the hole and fill in original soil to the top of the root ball.
Gently tamp down the soil and water it well.
Keep it until the plant is established.
Space Roman chamomile 8 inches apart and German chamomile 12 inches apart.
Chamomile Care Tips
Chamomile is an easy-to-grow plant that requires little care.
Light
The plant does best in full sun but also tolerates light shade.
Soil and Water
Chamomile does best in well-drained, sandy soil.
The ideal pH is in the range of 5.6 to 7.5.
Once established, chamomile is fairly drought tolerant but does better if watered during dry spells.
Temperature and Humidity
Both German and Roman chamomile prefer cool summer climates.
Roman chamomile is winter-hardy even in subzero climates.
The plants can tolerate some heat but not extremely hot weather and no extreme humidity.
Fertilizer
Chamomile usually does not require fertilizer; ir can even grow in poor soil.
Overfertilizing can backfire and lead to leggy plants with few flowers.
Potting and Repotting Chamomile
All chamomile varieties make good container plants.
Select a pot with large drainage holes and fill it with well-draining potting mix.
Remember that container plants require more frequent watering and fertilization than plants in the landscape.
Dig up the clump and lift it out of the ground, then cut it into smaller sections.
confirm each section has intact roots.
Replant the sections at the same level as the original plant and water them well until established.
Place the seeds in 4-inch pots filled with damp potting mix.
Do not cover them as they need light to germinate.
Keep them at a temperature between 60 to 75 degrees and evenly moist.
Harvesting
In spring and summer, gather leaves to use fresh or to dry for later use.
Pick fully open, fresh flowers early in the day.
Rinse under running water and pat dry.
Leave them until fully dried, about 2 weeks.
Store dried flowers in airtight jars in a dark location.
Note that due to its side effects, chamomile should only be consumed in limited amounts and with caution.
It should not be consumed by people with asthma and pregnant women.
Types of Chamomile
German Chamomile
Matricaria recutitais an annual bearing daisy-shape white flowers all summer.
It grows 2 feet tall.
This is the chamomile widelygrown for tea.
It has a sweet, straw-like taste with herbal and grassy notes.
Each feathery stem grows one daisy-like flower that is larger than 1 inch in diameter.
It does not require clipping.
German chamomile also freely self-seeds.
If you provide chamomile with optimum growing conditions, it can grow aggressively.
Aim for a ratio of 1 cup of hot water to 2 to 3 teaspoons of flowers.
Brew tea from leaves in a similar fashion.
Updated by Nadia Hassani
“Roman Chamomile.
“Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
