Growing Chamomile from Seed: A Calming Herb for your Garden

Growing chamomile from seed is a simple way to ensure you always have these helpful flowers on hand. The sweet apple-scented blooms make a calming tea that helps with sleep and stress, while also bringing benefits to your garden. Welcoming this popular flower into your home will give you fresh flowers to harvest throughout the season.

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About Chamomile

Chamomile is a flowering plant in the daisy family (Asteraceae). Its flowers are edible with a sweet, apple-like scent that can be used fresh or dried for soothing teas.

The small, delicate flowers have long been used medicinally to promote relaxation and sleep, and they can also be infused into oils, lotions, and other topical preparations.

There are two main species of chamomile: German Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), an annual that grows up to 2-feet high, and Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile), a lower-growing perennial reaching about 12-inches.

Both feature similar daisy-like blooms with white petals surrounding a yellow, dome-shaped center.

German chamomile is more commonly used for making tea, and Roman for its apple-like aroma in potpourri, lawns, and ground cover. Why not start your own medicinal a tea garden? Learn to brew Your Own Bliss at home.

German chamomile, though technically an annual in zones 3-9, is a prolific self-seeder, with each flower head producing hundreds of tiny seeds that scatter naturally in the wind.

These gentle flowers release a sweet apple-like fragrance that not only makes excellent tea but also attracts beneficial insects like hover flies and parasitic wasps to your garden.

Growing Chamomile

Chamomile is extremely easy to grow and care for, thriving in full sun or partial shade.

Spread the tiny seeds across the soil’s surface and press them down lightly – they require sunlight for germination. Maintain consistent moisture in the soil and you should see sprouts emerge within 7-10 days.

This carefree herb is wonderfully adaptable too. While it flourishes in garden beds, it’s equally happy growing in containers on your porch, patio, or even indoors near a sunny window.

This flexibility means you can start with a few plants in pots and later transplant them to your garden or maintain a convenient container herb garden right outside your kitchen door.

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Soil Preparation

Chamomile thrives in well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Before planting, incorporate organic matter like compost to improve drainage and fertility.

While chamomile adapts to poor soil, rich, loose soil promotes optimal growth and flower production.

Garden Growing

For thriving garden-grown chamomile, proper spacing ensures healthy plants and abundant blooms.

Chamomile loves basking in full sun, requiring 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal flower production. However, in zones 7 and warmer, providing afternoon shade can prevent stress during intense summer heat. The plants will still flower in partial shade, though yields may be reduced.

Chamomile Makes a Great Companion Plant

As a companion plant, chamomile earns its nickname “the plant’s physician.” It enhances the growth and flavor of cabbages, onions, and aromatic herbs like basil and mint. Plant chamomile near struggling plants to boost their essential oil production and overall health.

Container Growing

Growing chamomile in containers offers flexibility and convenience – even old bathtubs can make charming planters! Choose a container at least 12 inches deep and 12 inches in diameter for each chamomile plant.

The whimsical sight of chamomile’s daisy-like flowers spilling over the edges of a repurposed tub shows how versatile these plants can be in creative container gardens.

Harvesting Chamomile Flowers

Another great benefit of growing chamomile is that you can harvest its flowers when they are looking their best. Pick flowers when they’re fully open, with petals fanning out flat.

Morning is the ideal time to harvest, once the dew has dried. Simply pinch off the flower heads and dry them on a drying rack or paper towels for 1-2 weeks before storing.

Medicinal Benefits

Chamomile is one of nature’s most beloved healing herbs. It’s best known as a sleep aid, containing apigenin – a natural compound that promotes relaxation and drowsiness. A warm cup before bed can help you drift off to sleep.

Beyond helping with sleep and digestion, chamomile helps calm irritated skin and reduce redness. You can apply cooled tea as a face wash or eye compress, and many skincare products include chamomile for its soothing properties.

Remember that while chamomile is generally safe, it’s always wise to start with small amounts to ensure you don’t have any sensitivities.

The herb’s effectiveness often builds with regular use, making it an excellent choice for long-term wellness support.