kallerna / CC BY-SA 3.0
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.
Chamomile (Anthemis) is a genus of aromatic flowering plants in the family Asteraceae, closely related to Chamaemelum. Some species are also called dog-fennel or mayweed. Anthemis are native to the Mediterranean region and southwest Asia east to Iran. A number of species have also become naturalized in the United Kingdom and other parts of the world.
There are around 100 species within this genus. Anthemis species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Orthonama obstipata (The Gem) and Bucculatrix anthemidella, a leaf-miner which feeds exclusively on Anthemis tinctoria.
Several species and cultivars are available for garden use. A. punctata subsp. cupaniana and Anthemis tinctoria 'E.C. Buxton' have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Growing Conditions
Habitat & Range
- Habitat
- Meadows & Open Areas
- Native Range
- Native to Alberta, Kentucky; also native to Afghanistan, Algeria, Austria and 67 more regions; introduced in 41 US states
- Cultivation Region
- Temperate regions
Botanical data via projectGAIA.
Companion Planting & Soil
Good Companions
Sowing & Propagation
Propagation Methods
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
Culinary
- Dried flowers steeped as the classic calming tea
- Infused into honey, cream, and syrups
Medicinal
- Clinically proven anxiolytic and sleep aid
- Anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic for digestive relief
- Topical use for skin irritation and wound healing
Other Uses
- Companion plant that improves the health of nearby plants
- Roman chamomile used as a fragrant lawn substitute
- Attracts beneficial hoverflies and parasitic wasps
