Product Field NotesHerb Plants
German Chamomile: Little Tea Daisies That Keep on Blooming
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German chamomile is a quick, cheerful annual with fine, feathery leaves and small white daisies with golden centers, each about half an inch to an inch across. The flowers have a strong, apple-like scent, and they are the part you pick and dry for tea.
It is one of the most generous herbs you can grow: the more you pick, the more it blooms.
German chamomile at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Matricaria chamomilla (also listed as Matricaria recutita) |
| Flowers | White rays around a golden yellow center, 0.5 to 1 inch |
| Leaves | Green, fine, feathery and aromatic |
| Size | 6 to 24 inches tall and wide |
| Bloom | Starts mid-June, peaks early July, continuous |
| Hardiness | Grown as an annual; self-seeds |
| Water | Moderate |
| Fragrance | Strong and apple-like |
A tea garden partner for lavender
Chamomile and lavender are the backbone of many tea gardens, and they look sweet together. Little white daisies floating on feathery green make a soft, cottage-garden contrast to lavender's upright purple spikes, and chamomile's bloom runs from midsummer right through the lavender season.
The difference is water. Chamomile has shallow roots and needs a drink in hot, dry spells, while lavender wants to be left alone. Plant chamomile along the outer edge of the lavender bed or in a nearby herb bed or container, where you can water it without soaking lavender crowns. Lay out a tea garden in the Companion Plant Planner.
Growing tips
- Light: sun.
- Water: moderate. Shallow roots dry out quickly in heat, but waterlogged soil causes rot.
- Feeding: little needed. Average soil is fine.
- Problems: aphids and powdery mildew are the main ones. Space plants for airflow.
- Next year: the plant dies after setting seed, but dropped seed often sprouts the following spring.
Harvesting and drying for tea
Pick flower heads when they are near full bloom, with the white petals open and flat or just starting to fold back. Pinch them off with your fingers or use a comb-like rake for a bigger patch. Picking every few days keeps more flowers coming.
Spread the heads in a single layer on a screen or tray in a warm, shaded, airy spot until they are completely dry and crumble easily. Store them in an airtight jar away from light; dried flowers keep for up to a year. Steep a spoonful in hot water for a mellow, apple-scented herbal tea, or blend with a pinch of dried culinary lavender.
Sizes offered
German chamomile comes as 3-inch plugs, 4-inch pots and 1-gallon pots. A few plants are plenty for home tea; plugs make it easy to fill a larger patch. See the product page for current sizes and availability.
Frequently asked questions
Is German chamomile the same as Roman chamomile?
No. German chamomile is an upright annual grown for tea flowers. Roman chamomile is a low, creeping perennial.
Will it come back next year?
Not from the roots, but it self-seeds readily if you leave some flowers to ripen.
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