How to grow German Chamomile

Matricaria recutita

Full Sun
OR
Partial Sun
Medium

This plant needs well-drained soil and regular watering, though take care not to over-water.
Self seeds easily

Growing German chamomile from seed

Very easy from seed, can be sown in fall before last frost, sown indoors before first frost, or sown outdoors before last frost.

Readily reseeds itself.

Aim to sow 0.25 inches (0.64 cm) deep and try to ensure a gap of at least 5.85 inches (15.0 cm). For optimal germination, soil temperature should be a minimum of 10°C / 50°F.

By our calculations*, you should look at sowing German chamomile about 0 days after your last frost date .

Transplanting German chamomile

Best to thin out after to a distance of about 20cm between plants.
Choose a sunny spot at the front of the border or along a path in well drained conditions
Sometimes used to make a chamomile lawn or chamomile seat. These are walked on or sat on, once mature, to release the herbs fragrance

German chamomile is tender, so ensure you wait until all danger of frost has passed in your area before considering planting outside - as a guideline, the minimum temperature outside should be approximately 10°C / 50°F.

Harvesting German chamomile

Pick flowers before midday to avoid sun-induced loss of valuable voltile essence ¹

Seed Saving German chamomile

Collect flower heads as they fade and place in a paper bag to dry completely

How long does German chamomile take to grow?

These estimates for how long German chamomile takes to sprout, grow and harvest are from real observations from real gardeners, right around the world.

Days to Germination How long does it take German chamomile to germinate?: 7 days
Average 7 days | Min 1 days | Max 29 days (126)
Days to Transplant How long until I can plant out German chamomile?: + 18 days
Average 18 days | Min 4 days | Max 90 days (11)
Days to Maturity How long until German chamomile is ready for harvest / bloom?: + 71 days
Average 71 days | Min 34 days | Max 339 days (11)
Total Growing Days How long does it take to grow German chamomile?: = 96 days

When should I plant German chamomile?

Our when to plant German chamomile estimates are relative to your last frost date.

When to sow The number of days to sow German chamomile before or after your last frost date.: 0 days after Last Frost Date

German chamomile Etymology

The word chamomile comes from the Greek and means “earth-apple”.

German chamomile Folklore & Trivia

Peter Rabbit was given a soothing cup of chamomile tea by his mother after a narrow escape from Mr McGregor. ¹

Other names for German chamomile

Tea chamomile, Common chamomile, Hungarian chamomile, Wild chamomile, Scented mayweed, Manzanilla, camomile

Chamomilla recutita, Matricaria chamomilla, Matricaria chamomilla var. coronata, Matricaria suaveolens

Misspellings: Chamommile, Chamommila, German chamommile

Footnotes

¹ “Hemphill’s Herbs, their cultivation and usage”, by John & Rosemary Hemphill 1984, Landsdowne Press, Sydney.

² :Growing Herbs with Margaret Roberts; First published 1985

³ Milojević, Marina. “Chamomile.” Perfume Ingredient, Fragrance and Essential Oils Matricaria Chamomilla. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Sept. 2014.