Chamomile Bodegold

Matricaria recutita

Characteristics

Culture

Chamomile Bodegold grows easily in average, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Performs well in light sandy soils. Tolerates light shade. Tolerates poor soils. Best with regular moisture. Plants will typically remain in the garden from year to year by self-seeding. Bodegold begins blooming several weeks earlier than other strains and produces abundant flowers. Pick the little blossoms with their dainty white petals and gold centers and simply air dry for making fragrant pineapple-scented tea. Serve with a little honey to settle the stomach and soothe the nervous system before retiring.

Noteworthy Characteristics

Commonly called German chamomile or sweet false chamomile, is an annual aromatic Eurasian herb that is commonly grown in herb gardens for harvest of its flowers which are principally used to make chamomile tea which is a mild sedative herbal drink recommended for a large number of applications.  This plant has escaped garden plantings and has naturalized in open areas and along roads in various parts of North America. It typically grows to 12-24″ tall and to 12″ wide on stems clad with aromatic but bitter tasting double pinnate leaves (to 3″ long). Showy daisy-like flowers bloom summer to fall. Each flower features 10-20 petal-like white rays surrounding a showy bright yellow domed center disk of tubular yellow florets. For herbal use, harvest flowers when fully open. Flowers may be used fresh off the plant or dried and stored in airtight containers (freeze if product will not be used soon). German chamomile is used in most commercially marketed packages of chamomile tea rather than Roman chamomile (Chamamaemelum nobile) in large part because the former has a much sweeter and less bitter taste than the latter.

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems.

Garden Uses

Numerous additional uses for this herb beyond tea include (a) culinary (addition to cream cheese, fruit preparations and salads), (b) cosmetic (add to compresses or floral waters), (c) medicinal (add to creams for treatment of minor inflammations, wounds or irritations of mouth or gums), (d) add to potpourris, and (e) sachet pouch for bath water.

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Courtesy of Missouri Botanical Garden & Renee’s Seeds