Chamomile
Matricaria chamomilla
Chamomile is a delicate annual herb with feathery leaves and small, apple-scented, daisy-like flowers that are dried for calming herbal tea. It grows easily from seed in the cool season.
Photo: Alvesgaspar · CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Essential Care Requirements
Light
Full sun
Watering
Moderate
Keep the soil lightly moist while seedlings establish, then water when the top dries.
Soil
Light, well-drained soil; pH 6.0–7.5. Poor soil is fine.
Temperature and humidity
2–28 °C · Low humidity
Feeding
No feeding needed.
Pruning and propagation
Propagate by seed
Pick flowers regularly to keep more coming.
Chamomile tea is safe for most people, though those with daisy-family allergies may react. The plant can cause mild stomach upset and skin irritation in cats and dogs.
Top Cultivation Tips
Scatter seed on the surface; it needs light to germinate.
Sow in October–November in the plains.
Dry flowers on a cloth in the shade.
Self-sows if a few flowers are left.
Common problems
Aphids
Small, soft-bodied insects that cluster on new shoots and buds, sucking sap and leaving sticky honeydew behind.
How to treat it →DiseasePowdery mildew
A fungal disease that coats leaves, buds and young shoots with a white, flour-like dust, weakening the plant and spoiling flowers and fruit.
How to treat it →
