Common Chamomile
Common Chamomile: 60-65 days to harvest, 7-14 days to germinate, 12-18 inches between plants, hardy in zones 2-8. Give it full sun to part shade and moderate; regular watering when young, drought-tolerant once established water.
Sowing
Direct sow after last frost by scattering seeds on soil surface and pressing gently (do not cover). Or start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost on soil surface under grow lights, transplant after hardening off.
Cultivation
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Moderate; regular watering when young, drought-tolerant once established
- Soil
- Well-drained loam, neutral to slightly acidic; tolerates poor soil
- Spacing
- 12-18 inches
- Height
- 1 ft. 1 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
- Season
- Warm season annual
Appearance & flavour
- Colour
- White petals with yellow disk center
- Shape
- Daisy-like, small button flower
- Flavour
- Delicate, slightly sweet, apple-like flavor with gentle herbal and floral notes; soothing and mild, not bitter
In the kitchen
Herbal tea, digestive remedy, sleep aid, edible flower garnish for salads and desserts, infusions, medicinal herbal preparations
Pests, disease & resistance
- Pests
- Aphids, spider mites, flies
- Diseases
- Powdery mildew, root rot in humid conditions, damping off in seedlings
Planting calendar by USDA zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Transplant | Direct sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | April – May | June – August | — | August – September |
| 3 | April – May | June – July | — | July – October |
| 4 | March – April | June – July | — | July – October |
| 5 | March – April | May – June | — | June – October |
| 6 | March – April | May – June | — | June – November |
| 7 | February – March | April – June | — | June – November |
| 8 | February – March | April – May | — | May – December |
| 9 | January – February | March – April | — | April – December |
| 10 | January | February – April | — | April – December |
Companion planting
8 beneficial pairings indexed for this variety, 2 to avoid.
Avoid
Nutrition (per 100 g)
- Calories (per 100 g)
- 23
- Protein (g)
- 3.15
- Fat (g)
- 0.64
- Carbohydrate (g)
- 2.65
- Fibre (g)
- 1.6
- Sugars (g)
- 0.3
- Vitamin A (µg)
- 264
- Vitamin C (mg)
- 18
- Vitamin E (mg)
- 0.8
- Vitamin K (µg)
- 415
- Vitamin B6 (mg)
- 0.155
- Folate (µg)
- 68
- Calcium (mg)
- 177
- Iron (mg)
- 3.17
- Magnesium (mg)
- 64
- Phosphorus (mg)
- 56
- Potassium (mg)
- 295
- Zinc (mg)
- 0.81
- Selenium (µg)
- 0.3
Where to buy seed and equipment
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Cultivar facts compiled from public horticultural references including USDA GRIN and NC State Extension. Descriptions are original to this catalogue.
Grown Common Chamomile?
Post a crop report — day counts, reservoir readings, what worked. Variety-specific logs are the most useful thing on the forum.
Similar varieties
Other herbs with a comparable time to harvest, so a season that suits Common Chamomile suits these too.
- Allium schoenoprasum 'Purly' 60 days
- Russian Tarragon 60 days
- Pesto Perpetuo Basil 60 days
- Vertissimo 60 days
- Spicy Globe Basil 60 days
- Japanese Shiso Green 60 days