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Chamomile is easy to grow and makes an attractive and aromatic addition to a herb collection, with feathery foliage and small, daisy-like flowers. Chamomile can also be grown in borders and wildflower

A term generally applied to non-woody, flowering plants that are natural to a particular area and grow there without human assistance. More accurately, British wildflowers normally applies to UK natives including plants introduced into the wild before 1500. areas, while dwarf varieties are suitable for containers and chamomile lawns.

Chamomile likes a sunny spot with free-draining soil, and is full hardy. The name chamomile derives from the Greek for ‘earth apple’, referring to its low-growing habit and apple-like scent. There are several types of chamomile with the characteristic, relaxing fragrance.

The two types of chamomile most widely grown to make relaxing, aromatic chamomile tea are:

• Common chamomile or Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) – a hardy perennial
  Perennials are plants that live for multiple years. They come in all shapes and sizes and fill our gardens with colourful flowers and ornamental foliage. Many are hardy and can survive outdoors all year round, while less hardy types need protection over winter. The term herbaceous perennial is used to describe long-lived plants without a permanent woody structure (they die back to ground level each autumn), distinguishing them from trees, shrubs and sub-shrubs. to 30cm (12in) tall with scented, feathery leaves and small, daisy-like flowers
• German chamomile or scented mayweed(Matricaria recutita) – a hardy annual up to 40cm (16in) tall with similarly aromatic foliage and pollinator-friendly, daisy-like flowers

Both are easy to grow from seed in spring and are ideal for herb gardens, veg plots, borders and wildflower

A term generally applied to non-woody, flowering plants that are natural to a particular area and grow there without human assistance. More accurately, British wildflowers normally applies to UK natives including plants introduced into the wild before 1500. areas.

If you want to grow a fragrant chamomile lawn, the traditional choice is the non-flowering ornamental variety ‘T°ù±ð²Ô±ð²¹²µ³Ü±ð’, which forms a dense carpet of aromatic feathery foliage that doesn’t need clipping. But if you want flowers in your chamomile lawn, a good alternative is the dwarf variety ‘Flore Pleno’, with white pompom blooms. Dwarf varieties are also great in herb gardens, containers and as border edging, and can be grown in gaps in paving or in gravel areas, in even the smallest gardens.

To help you choose what to grow, visit the herb collections at theRHS gardens, where you can explore a wide range of herbs, including chamomile. You can see how they’re grown, compare the different types and pick up growing tips.

What and where to buy

The seeds of common chamomile and German chamomile are widely available in garden centres and from online seed suppliers. Both are sold as ‘chamomile’, so check the description and botanical name carefully to make sure you get the type you want. Named varieties of common chamomile are usually only available as plants in spring and summer from gardening retailers.

If you want to make a chamomile lawnand don’t need flowers for making tea, look for the dwarf variety ‘T°ù±ð²Ô±ð²¹²µ³Ü±ð’. This can only be bought as plants, as it doesn’t flower or produce seeds. Trays of plug plants

Seedlings or young plants grown singly in small modules, with the advantage that they can be transplanted with minimal root disturbance. Bedding plants and young veg plants are often sold as plug plants of various sizes, with smaller ones requiring more aftercare. They usually need to be potted up and grown on indoors until large enough to plant outside. may be available for planting larger areas. If you do want flowers, buy plants of the compact, double-flowered ‘Flore Pleno’. These varieties are usually stocked by larger plant retailers and herb nurseries.

Recommended Varieties

'Flore pleno'

Mat-forming chamomile with aromatic foliage and white, pompom-like double flowers. Image © Shutterstock

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'Treneague'

A non-flowering lawn chamomile that forms a dense carpet of aromatic foliage. Image © Shutterstock

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German chamomile

Matricaria recutita or scented mayweed – an aromatic annual. Use the flowers to make tea.

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Common chamomile

Chamaemelum nobile – feathery, scented leaves, and daisy flowers that make a relaxing tea.

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Both common chamomile and German chamomile are easy to grow from seed, indoors or outside. They grow quickly and should start flowering in as little as ten weeks.

Sowing indoors

In spring, sow chamomile seeds into small pots or trays of damp, peat-free seed compost

Seed compost is a free-draining compost formulated for germinating seed. It often contains a mix of fine materials including sterilised loam, coir, coarse sand or grit. It contains low levels of nutrients, as high levels could damage seedlings. – just scatter the seeds thinly on the surface as they need light to germinate. When the seedlings

A seedling is a young plant grown from seed. are large enough to handle, move them into individual pots. Keep in a warm, bright location and water regularly, aiming to keep the compost

Can refer to either home-made garden compost or seed/potting compost: • Garden compost is a soil improver made from decomposed plant waste, usually in a compost bin or heap. It is added to soil to improve its fertility, structure and water-holding capacity. Seed or potting composts are used for growing seedlings or plants in containers - a wide range of commercially produced peat-free composts are available, made from a mix of various ingredients, such as loam, composted bark, coir and sand, although you can mix your own. just moist. The young plants can be transplanted

Moving a plant from one growing position to another, often from a pot to its final spot in the garden. outside in late spring or early summer – see Planting, below.

Sowing outdoors

Sow chamomile seeds into warm soil from mid-spring onwards. The seeds need light to germinate, so don’t cover them. Water seedlings

A seedling is a young plant grown from seed. as needed, aiming to keep the soil evenly moist, and provide protection from slugs and snails. Thin seedlings to 15cm (6in) apart once large enough to easily handle.

Young chamomile plants – either grown from seed indoors or bought as young plants – can be transplanted

Moving a plant from one growing position to another, often from a pot to its final spot in the garden. into the garden in late spring and early summer. Harden them off first, to acclimatise them to outdoor conditions.

Choose a sunny planting site with light, well-drained soil that doesn’t dry out totally or get waterlogged

Describes soil or potting compost that is saturated with water. The water displaces air from the spaces between soil particles and plant roots can literally drown, unless they are adapted to growing in waterlogged conditions. Waterlogging is common on poorly drained soil or when heavy soil is compacted. . Weed the area thoroughly then position the chamomile plants at the same level they were previously growing, about 15cm (6in) apart, and water in well. Dwarf varieties can also be planted in a large container filled with peat-free soil-basedor multi-purpose compost

Can refer to either home-made garden compost or seed/potting compost: • Garden compost is a soil improver made from decomposed plant waste, usually in a compost bin or heap. It is added to soil to improve its fertility, structure and water-holding capacity. Seed or potting composts are used for growing seedlings or plants in containers - a wide range of commercially produced peat-free composts are available, made from a mix of various ingredients, such as loam, composted bark, coir and sand, although you can mix your own. . Containers should be at least 30cm (1ft) wide so they don’t dry out too rapidly.

Planting a chamomile lawn

To create a chamomile lawn or chamomile seat, start by weeding the area thoroughly, as chamomile doesn’t compete well with other plants. Plant suitable, dwarf varieties 10cm (4in) apart and water in well. Bear in mind that a large chamomile lawn needs a lot of plants (about 100 per square metre/yard), so it’s usually best to start with a small area and increase it gradually by dividing established plants

Established plants have been in their current location for two or three years and so have well-developed root systems able to support strong growth with healthy foliage and flowers. .

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Once established, chamomile needs little maintenance. Simply water as needed in dry spells to prevent drying out, and clip back lightly if plants become leggy. The more flowers you harvest, the more they will produce.

A chamomile lawn needs a little more upkeep – weed regularly to keep it looking neat and ensure the plants grow strongly without competition. Bear in mind that chamomile lawns are not as robust as grass lawns and can’t cope with regular foot traffic.

Watering

Water young chamomile plants regularly until well-rooted. Once established, they shouldn't need regular watering apart from in long, dry spells.

Plants in containers dry out more quickly than those in the ground, so check daily and water as needed to keep the compost

Can refer to either home-made garden compost or seed/potting compost: • Garden compost is a soil improver made from decomposed plant waste, usually in a compost bin or heap. It is added to soil to improve its fertility, structure and water-holding capacity. Seed or potting composts are used for growing seedlings or plants in containers - a wide range of commercially produced peat-free composts are available, made from a mix of various ingredients, such as loam, composted bark, coir and sand, although you can mix your own. evenly moist. Take care not to overwater, as chamomile dislikes very wet conditions.

Feeding

Chamomile should grow and flower well without feeding, even in poor soil.

Weeding

Keep seedlings

A seedling is a young plant grown from seed. and young plants weed-free to reduce competition and help them get established. With a chamomile lawn, weed regularly by hand, as low-growing chamomile plants can quickly become swamped by more vigorous weeds.

Cutting back

Common chamomile can become leggy over time, so clip plants back several times through the growing season

The period of time when an individual plant is in active growth. This will depend on the local climate and light levels, and can vary between different plants, although it is broadly from spring to autumn. to keep them compact, dense and bushy.

With a chamomile lawn, the non-flowering variety ‘T°ù±ð²Ô±ð²¹²µ³Ü±ð’ doesn’t need clipping as it stays naturally low to the ground. If flowering chamomile is grown as a lawn, clip it back in late summer with shears to remove the old flower stems.

Propagating

You can collect seeds of common chamomile and German chamomile in late summer, to sow the following spring. Both of these may also self-seed, in which case you can simply dig up any seedlings

A seedling is a young plant grown from seed. in late spring or early summer and move them to your preferred growing site. German chamomile is an annual, so plants die off once they’ve produced seeds.

The varieties ‘T°ù±ð²Ô±ð²¹²µ³Ü±ð’ and ‘Flore Pleno’ don’t produce seeds, but you can make new plants by dividing established mats in autumn or spring. Simply dig up a section and pull it apart into separate plants, then replant them in a new location straight away, and water in well. This is a useful way to extend a chamomile lawn and fill any gaps that may develop.

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Pick newly-opened chamomile flowers throughout the summer. Regular harvesting and deadheading will encourage further flowers and prolong your harvest. The flowers can be used fresh for making tea or dried for later use. Dried flowers can also be used in pot pourri and herbal pillows, and as decoration. To dry them, spread the flowers on a tray in a single layer and place somewhere warm and dry, out of direct sunlight, for a week or two. Once fully dried, store in an air-tight jar in a cool, dark place.

Once established, chamomile is generally healthy and trouble-free when grown in a sunny spot with free-draining soil. Waterlogging, especially in winter, can cause plants to rot. Chamomile also dislikes drying out in summer. Slugs, snails and aphids may be attracted to the soft young shoots – see Common problems below for tips on tackling them.

If a chamomile lawn becomes gappy, there are several potential causes: it has been walked on too much, the soil dried out or got too damp, or the plants didn’t get enough sun. Make sure weeds don’t get established in any gaps, as they will spoil the look of the lawn and shade out the low-growing chamomile plants. To fill bare patches or extend the lawn, divide thriving clumps in spring or autumn (see Propagating, above).

Common Problems

Aphids

Aphids are sap-sucking insects, they have many predators and are the basis for many food chains. The sap sucking can cause a lack of plant vigour, dis...

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Slugs and snails

Slugs and snails are common garden animals, and they are well suited to the damp, mild climate of the UK. A few species feed on garden plants, but mos...

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