BattenBlooms
PL. —Matricaria chamomillaBotanical illustration — drop image
Matricaria chamomilla

Chamomile

SpringSummer
2a–9bHardiness zone
Peak bloom windowZone 6b · frost-offset weeks
Winter
Not in bloom
Spring
Peak bloom
Summer
In bloom
Fall
Not in bloom
Peak bloom
In bloom
Background

German chamomile is one of the most useful plants in the cutting garden — the daisy-like flowers with their golden centres are a natural filler in any arrangement, and the apple-honey scent carries through the whole. It's fast, it's generous, and it self-seeds so reliably that once you grow it, it tends to find its own way back.

Sow direct in earliest spring — it germinates in cool soil and handles frost without complaint. Like cosmos, it flowers better in poor soil; give it too much fertility and you get lush growth with fewer blooms. Cut regularly to keep the plant producing; let a few heads go to seed and you'll have volunteers every year after.

Good companions
Zinnia elegansCosmos bipinnatusCalendula officinalis
Care guide
SunFull sun
WaterLow to moderate; drought tolerant once established
SoilPoor to average, well-draining — rich soil produces more leaf than flower
Spacing6–9 inches
Height12–24 inches
Zone2a – 9b
Direct sowFrost hardy
Seasonal tasks
spring
sowDirect sow in early spring into cool soil — surface sow, needs light to germinate
cutHarvest when flowers just open; strip lower leaves before arranging
summer
cutCut continuously — the more you pick, the more it produces
fall
watchLeave a few heads to self-seed; it will return reliably each year
Common problems

Aphids

Symptoms

Clusters of small soft insects on new growth and flower buds.

Treatment

Knock off with a strong jet of water. Ladybirds and lacewings are natural predators. Insecticidal soap as last resort.