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Chamomile
Matricaria chamomilla
Apple-scented daisy-like flowers used for calming herbal tea. Self-sows prolifically.
Quick Facts
Sun:☀️ Full Sun
Water:💧 Low
USDA Zones:Zones 3–9
Space:🪴 Container, 🌱 Small Bed, 🏡 Large Garden
Soil:Loam, Sandy, Silty
Best Season(s):Spring
Experience Level:🌱 Beginner
Native Range:Europe & Western Asia
Bloom Color:White petals with a yellow center, daisy-like
Bloom Cycle:Spring through early summer, continuous while picked
Harvest Pattern:Continuous / cut-and-come-again
Care Notes
Harvest flowers when fully open. Allow some to self-seed for next year. Very low maintenance.
Growing Details
Mature Size:8-24 in tall, 12-18 in wide
Growth Rate:🐇 Fast
Zone Performance
German chamomile is grown as a cool-season annual across its full Zone 3-9 listed range, so zone mainly shifts the calendar: in cooler Zone 3-5 gardens it's sown in spring for a single summer bloom season, while in hot Zone 8-9 climates it performs best as a fall-sown crop that flowers in the cooler months of late winter and spring before summer heat ends it.
Companions & Wildlife
🦌 Deer Resistance
seldom damaged
Chamomile's apple-scented, finely cut foliage is not a preferred deer forage, though it lacks the strong deterrent oils of woodier herbs.
🐝 Pollinator Value
high
The daisy-like white and yellow flowers are highly attractive to honeybees, hoverflies, and small native bees throughout their long summer bloom period.
Good Companions
Cabbage — A classic pairing — chamomile is reputed to improve the growth and flavor of nearby brassicas.
Troubleshooting
⚠️ Aphids clustering on flower buds and stems
Spray with a strong jet of water or insecticidal soap, and encourage ladybugs and lacewings by avoiding broad-spectrum pesticides nearby.
⚠️ Damping off or poor germination in cool, wet soil
Surface-sow the tiny seed (it needs light to germinate) in well-drained soil and avoid burying it.
⚠️ Weak flowering and floppy stems in overly rich, shaded soil
Grow in full sun with lean to average soil — chamomile blooms best without heavy fertilization.
⚠️ Uncontrolled self-seeding taking over adjacent beds
Deadhead spent flowers regularly if volunteer seedlings aren't wanted the following year.
⚠️ Pet Safety
Mildly toxic to cats and dogs in large amounts (related to ragweed family) — small tea-strength amounts are commonly used for pets under vet guidance, but the fresh plant in quantity is best avoided.
Informational only — always check with a veterinarian if you suspect your pet has eaten something it shouldn't have.
🌿 Traditional & Medicinal Use
Well-documented traditional and some clinical evidence for relaxation/sleep support — see the Medicinal Herb Garden guide for detail and cautions (ragweed-family cross-allergy).
Informational only, not medical advice — consult a healthcare provider before using any plant medicinally.