Chamomile German
Matricaria recutita
Characteristics
- Type: Annual
- Zone: 2 – 8
- Height: 1 – 2 Feet
- Spread: 9 to 12 Inches
- Bloom Time: June – August
- Bloom: White Rays with Yellow Center Disk
- Sun: Full Sun
- Water: Dry to Medium
- Maintenance: Low
- Flower: Showy, Fragrant
- Family: Asteraceae
Culture
Chamomile German is easily grown 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. Plant seed directly in the garden shortly before last spring frost date (flowers will appear in mid- summer with continued flowering to frost). For earlier flowers, start seed indoors in small pots about 6-8 weeks prior to last spring frost date for planting outside at last frost date. Plants will typically remain in the garden from year to year by self-seeding.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Matricaria recutita, 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 including calming nerves, relaxing tense muscles, alleviating stress, dispelling insomnia and treating indigestion. 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.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems.
Garden Uses
Numerous additional uses for German Chamomile 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.
Courtesy of Missouri Botanical Society Plant Finder