Heirloom

Common Chamomile

Matricaria recutita

Wikimedia Commons

Harvest

60-65d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun to part shade

☀️

Zones

2–8

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

1 ft. 1 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.

📏

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Start Indoors

Transplant

Harvest

Start Indoors

Transplant

Harvest

Showing dates for Common Chamomile in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 herb →

Zone Map

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Common Chamomile · Zones 2–8

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing12-18 inches

SoilWell-drained loam, neutral to slightly acidic; tolerates poor soil

WaterModerate; regular watering when young, drought-tolerant once established

SeasonWarm season annual

FlavorDelicate, slightly sweet, apple-like flavor with gentle herbal and floral notes; soothing and mild, not bitter

ColorWhite petals with yellow disk center

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 2	April – May	June – August	—	August – September
Zone 3	April – May	June – July	—	July – October
Zone 4	March – April	June – July	—	July – October
Zone 5	March – April	May – June	—	June – October
Zone 6	March – April	May – June	—	June – November
Zone 7	February – March	April – June	—	June – November
Zone 8	February – March	April – May	—	May – December
Zone 9	January – February	March – April	—	April – December
Zone 10	January – January	February – April	—	April – December

Succession Planting

Start transplants or direct-sow every 3 to 4 weeks from April through early June in zone 7, stopping before sustained daytime highs settle above 85°F — heat accelerates flowering and compresses the harvest window from weeks down to days. A single large sowing tends to give you a glut followed by nothing; staggered plantings spread the work and the yield.

Harvest flower heads every 5 to 7 days once fully open and the petals begin to reflex back toward the stem. Miss a flush and the plant sets seed fast and shuts down. If you want a fall run, sow again in late August — chamomile tolerates light frost down to around 28°F and will keep producing until a hard freeze takes it.

Complete Growing Guide

Good yields of small, sweet-smelling, daisy-like flowers. Tea made from the flowers aids digestion and acts as a gentle sleep inducer. Harvest using the Chamomile Rake. Also known as German chamomile and Hungarian chamomile.Edible Flowers: The flowers can be used to garnish salads, desserts, and drinks. Flavor is slightly sweet and of chamomile. According to Johnny's Selected Seeds, Common Chamomile is 60 - 65 days to maturity, annual, open pollinated. Notable features: Use for Cut Flowers and Bouquets, Edible Flowers.

Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil: Clay, Loam (Silt). Drainage: Good Drainage. Height: 1 ft. 1 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.. Spread: 0 ft. 8 in. - 0 ft. 1 in.. Spacing: Less than 12 inches. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: Low. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.

Harvesting

Common Chamomile reaches harvest at 60 - 65 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. As an annual, harvest continues until frost ends the season.

Edibility: Flowers for tea and other culinary uses.

Storage & Preservation

Fresh chamomile flowers should be stored in a breathable container—a paper bag or mesh pouch works best—kept in a cool, dark place around 50–60°F with moderate humidity. They'll hold for 3–5 days at room temperature before losing potency. For longer preservation, drying is the gold standard: harvest flowers in mid-morning after dew dries, spread them on screens or hang in bundles in a warm, well-ventilated space away from direct sunlight. They're ready when papery and crisp, usually within a week. Store dried flowers in airtight glass jars away from light. Frozen chamomile works too—freeze fresh flowers on a tray, then transfer to freezer bags for up to a year, though they're best used in teas rather than fresh applications. Chamomile's volatile oils concentrate beautifully during drying, actually improving the flavor and medicinal quality of the final product compared to fresh use.

History & Origin

Common Chamomile is open-pollinated, meaning seed saved from healthy plants will produce true-to-type offspring. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.

Origin: Temp. Eurasia to Indo-China

Advantages

+Edible: Flowers for tea and other culinary uses.
+Fast-growing
+Low maintenance

Considerations

-Toxic (Flowers, Leaves): Low severity

Companion Plants

Cabbage, broccoli, and onions are the strongest companions here. Chamomile's scent is thought to confuse aphids and cabbage moths, and the open flowers draw in hoverflies (Syrphidae) whose larvae feed on aphids — a double benefit since aphids pressure both chamomile and brassicas at the same time. Carrots and tomatoes benefit similarly, and chamomile's shallow roots at 12 to 18 inches don't compete with deeper-rooted crops for moisture. Mint is the companion to skip — it spreads aggressively by runner and will physically crowd chamomile out within a single season. Black walnut (Juglans nigra) is a harder stop: the roots and leaf litter release juglone, a compound toxic to a wide range of plants, and chamomile is sensitive enough that you'll see stunting and dieback well before you trace the cause.

Plant Together

Cabbage

Chamomile improves cabbage growth and flavor while repelling cabbage moths

Onions

Mutual pest protection - onions repel chamomile pests while chamomile deters onion flies

Cucumbers

Chamomile enhances cucumber growth and helps prevent bacterial wilt

Tomatoes

Chamomile may improve tomato flavor and growth while providing ground cover

Broccoli

Attracts beneficial insects that control broccoli pests like cabbage worms

Beans

Chamomile's flowers attract pollinators beneficial for bean production

Carrots

Chamomile improves soil health and may enhance carrot flavor

Lettuce

Provides beneficial shade and attracts pest-eating beneficial insects

Keep Apart

Mint

Both are aggressive spreaders that compete for space and resources

Black Walnut

Releases juglone which is toxic to chamomile and inhibits its growth

Nutrition Facts

Calories

23kcal(1%)

Protein

3.15g(6%)

Fiber

1.6g(6%)

Carbs

2.65g(1%)

Fat

0.64g(1%)

Vitamin C

18mg(20%)

Vitamin A

264mcg(29%)

Vitamin K

415mcg(346%)

Iron

3.17mg(18%)

Calcium

177mg(14%)

Potassium

295mg(6%)

Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #172232)

Pests & Disease Resistance

Common Pests

Aphids, spider mites, flies

Diseases

Powdery mildew, root rot in humid conditions, damping off in seedlings

Troubleshooting Common Chamomile

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

White powdery coating on leaves and stems, usually appearing mid-summer

Likely Causes

Powdery mildew (Erysiphe spp.) — thrives in warm, dry days with cool nights and poor airflow
Crowded spacing under 12 inches that traps humidity around foliage

What to Do

1.Spray a preventive mix of 1 tablespoon baking soda plus 1 tablespoon summer horticultural oil per gallon of water every 3 to 5 days, per NC State Extension's organic disease management guidance
2.Neem oil also works as a fungicide — reapply every 100 hours or less since sunlight breaks it down quickly
3.Thin plants to at least 12-inch spacing and cut out the worst-affected stems at the base

Seedlings collapsing at the soil line within the first 2 weeks after germination

Likely Causes

Damping off — most often Pythium spp. or Rhizoctonia solani — triggered by overwatered, poorly drained seed-starting mix
Reusing old, unsterilized trays that carry pathogen inoculum

What to Do

1.Water seedlings from below and let the top of the mix dry slightly between waterings
2.Start fresh with sterile seed-starting mix each season — don't reuse last year's plugs
3.Apply a Bacillus subtilis biofungicide drench at seeding; NC State Extension notes it suppresses a broad range of foliar and soilborne diseases

Stems turning brown and mushy at or just below the soil surface on established plants

Likely Causes

Root rot — Pythium or Phytophthora spp. — almost always tied to waterlogged or compacted soil
Planting in a low spot that holds water after rain

What to Do

1.Pull the affected plant — once the crown is rotted it won't recover
2.Work compost into the bed to improve drainage before replanting, or mound the soil 4 to 6 inches above grade
3.Chamomile is drought-tolerant once established; scale back irrigation after the first 3 to 4 weeks in the ground

Leaves stippled silver or bronze with fine webbing on undersides, especially during hot dry stretches

Likely Causes

Two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) — populations explode when temperatures stay above 85°F and humidity is low
Dusty conditions along field edges that coat leaves and deter natural predators

What to Do

1.Knock mites off with a firm spray of water early in the morning, hitting the undersides of leaves
2.Apply neem oil as a miticide — NC State Extension's organic gardening guidance lists it as effective against mites and their eggs — reapplying every 3 to 4 days until pressure drops
3.Avoid broad-spectrum insecticides that kill predatory mites (Phytoseiidae), which naturally keep Tetranychus populations in check

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does common chamomile take to grow from seed to harvest?▼

Common chamomile reaches maturity and begins flowering in 60-65 days from sowing. You can start harvesting individual flowers at day 50-55 if they've opened, but peak harvest occurs around day 65. The flowering period extends 6-8 weeks with regular picking, so total productive season is 60-90 days depending on climate and care.

Can you grow chamomile in containers or pots?▼

Yes, chamomile grows very well in pots. Use a 6-8 inch pot with drainage holes and well-draining potting mix. Space seeds 6-12 inches apart or thin seedlings accordingly. Container-grown chamomile dries out faster, so water more frequently but avoid waterlogging. Place pots in full sun for best flowering. Containers allow you to move plants indoors in very humid climates to prevent fungal issues.

Is common chamomile good for beginners?▼

Absolutely. Common chamomile is one of the easiest herbs to grow. It germinates quickly (7-14 days), tolerates poor soil, doesn't require fertilizer, and is very forgiving of beginner mistakes. The main challenge is managing tiny seeds carefully during sowing and preventing overcrowding. Once established, the plant essentially grows itself and rewards you with abundant flowers.

What does common chamomile taste like?▼

Common chamomile has a delicate, slightly sweet, apple-like flavor with herbal notes and a gentle floral aroma. The taste is soothing and mild—not bitter or overpowering. This mild, pleasant flavor is why it's traditionally brewed as a calming tea. Fresh flowers taste slightly more aromatic; dried flowers retain the flavor well for 6-12 months.

When is the best time to plant common chamomile?▼

Direct sow outdoors in spring after the last frost date, when soil is workable. Seeds need light to germinate, so scatter them on prepared soil without burying. Alternatively, start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost and transplant seedlings outdoors after hardening off. In mild climates (zones 8-10), you can also sow chamomile in fall for winter and early spring harvest.

Common chamomile vs. Roman chamomile—what's the difference?▼

Common (German) chamomile is an annual with finely divided feathery foliage, tall stems, and high flower yield. It's ideal for harvesting and tea-making. Roman chamomile is a perennial groundcover with broader leaves, shorter height, and lower yield. Roman chamomile has a stronger, more apple-like scent but produces fewer flowers. For tea production and culinary use, common chamomile is the standard choice.