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Chamomile
Anthemis
Overview
Perhaps the most beloved herbal tea plant in the world, chamomile has been used for its calming and healing properties since ancient Egypt, where it was dedicated to the sun god Ra. German chamomile is an annual grown for tea, while Roman chamomile is a creeping perennial used as a fragrant ground cover. Both produce apple-scented daisy-like flowers with proven anti-anxiety and digestive benefits.
Growing Conditions
How to Grow Chamomile
Chamomile (Anthemis) is a forb/herb that grows to about 1.5 feet tall and 12 inches wide.
To grow chamomile, give it full sun. It is hardy across USDA hardiness zones 4–8. Plant it in average, well-drained soil; tolerates poor soils, at a slightly acidic pH of 5.6–7.5. It does best with even, moderate watering.
Exact sowing, transplanting, and harvest months shift by climate zone — the planting calendar below lays them out for cool through hot regions. Its flowers appear from May through June, offering high value to pollinators. A plant worth learning slowly, the way it has been used for generations.
Companion Planting & Soil
Chamomile grows well alongside cabbage, onion, cucumber, mint, and basil.
Good Companions
Planting Calendar
When to sow, transplant, and harvest by growing zone.
| Zone | Action | Months | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cold (1-2) | Direct Sow | May — Jun | Direct sow after last frost; press tiny seeds onto surface, do not cover |
| Cold (1-2) | Harvest | Jun — Aug | Harvest flowers when petals reflex downward; dry promptly |
| Cool (3-4) | Direct Sow | Apr — May | Direct sow in spring; self-sows freely once established |
| Cool (3-4) | Harvest | May — Aug | Pick flowers when fully open; morning harvest has most oils |
| Moderate (5-7) | Direct Sow | Mar — Apr | Sow on soil surface; needs light to germinate |
| Moderate (5-7) | Direct Sow | Sep — Oct | Fall sowing for early spring bloom |
| Moderate (5-7) | Harvest | Apr — Jul | Harvest every 3-5 days during peak bloom |
| Warm (8-9) | Direct Sow | Sep — Oct | Fall sow for winter/spring bloom |
| Warm (8-9) | Harvest | Nov — Apr (wraps) | Harvest during cool season bloom |
| Hot (10+) | Direct Sow | Oct — Nov | Fall sow; grows through cool season |
| Hot (10+) | Harvest | Dec — Mar (wraps) | Harvest in winter |
Uses
In the Kitchen
In the kitchen, chamomile turns up in more than one form: dried flowers steeped as the classic calming tea; infused into honey, cream, and syrups.
Medicinal & Folk Use
In herbal and folk tradition, it has been valued in several ways: clinically proven anxiolytic and sleep aid; anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic for digestive relief; topical use for skin irritation and wound healing. These are traditional uses, not medical advice.
Beyond the Garden
Chamomile earns its keep past the plate, too: companion plant that improves the health of nearby plants; roman chamomile used as a fragrant lawn substitute; attracts beneficial hoverflies and parasitic wasps.
