Growing Chamomile

Growing chamomile will enable you to make teas from the freshly picked and dried chamomile flower.

These teas taste so much better than store-bought that you're likely to make this wonderful plant a permanent feature of your herb garden.

Chamomile or camomile is a common name for several daisy-like plants.

These plants are best known for their ability to be made into a tea which is commonly used to help with sleep and is often served with either honey or lemon.

Chamomile has much more to offer than just tea! It can also be used in homemade cosmetics and crafts.

Description

German chamomile is an annual that grows to about 2 to 3 feet tall. Roman chamomile is a perennial that grows only 8 to 10 inches tall in zones 5 to 9.

Flowers: Both German and Roman chamomiles have daisylike flowers with yellow centers surrounded by whitish petals.

Leaves: The German chamomile is an erect plant with feathery-looking leaves covered with soft hairs. The Roman chamomile has creeping stems and somewhat coarser leaves.

Flavor and fragrance: In teas, the fresh, clean flavor of chamomile is immediately soothing. Its fragrance is similar to that of freshly cut hay.

How To Grow

When to plant: You'll want to sow both types of chamomile in the garden when soil temperatures have reached 55 to 60 degrees F.

Where to plant: Both chamomiles prefer full sun but will tolerate partial shade.

Soil and fertility: Well-drained sandy soils with moderate fertility levels are ideal for German chamomile; if your soil is moist, plant it in a raised bed. Roman chamomile prefers a rich, moist soil. Scratch in about a 1/2 inch of compost to the top few inches of soil before planting Roman chamomile, and apply the same amount as a topdressing every spring.

Plant spacing: Allow 6 to 8 inches between German chamomile plants and 18 inches between Roman chamomile plants.

Pests: Both are pest-free.

Diseases: Both are disease-free.

Harvesting

When to harvest: You'll want to harvest when the flowers are fully open which will be late spring and summer for German chamomile and slightly earlier for Roman chamomile.

How to harvest: Cut the whole stems of German chamomile and pinch off the flowers of Roman chamomile.

Drying: Dry on screens.

Uses

Teas: Both chamomiles make excellent teas.

Medicinal: The teas are said to be sleep inducing, but some people who have been know to have sensitivities to ragweed, may also suffer allergic reactions to chamomile.

Cosmetics: You can make rinses and conditioners to heighten blonde highlights, help prevent dandruff, and condition dry hair. Cosmetic preparations containing chamomile are also used to soften the skin and refresh the eyes.

Crafts: Add chamomile flowers to potpourris.

As you can see, there are many benefits of growing chamomile in your herb garden.