In the Garden
Chamomile brings a bright, fresh look to the herb garden. Enjoy the apple-like scent of the leaves by planting where your feet might brush against them.
Chamomile flowers are ready for harvest when the petals curve back.If your only knowledge of chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) is from Peter Rabbit’s stomachache tea, then prepare yourself for a treat for yourself and the garden. The plant has fragrant, lacy leaves and small daisy-like flowers that grow only 4 to 12 inches tall, making it ideal to plant between stones or in other small niches.
Plants grow well in containers, too. Try planting a low, wide container or basket with nothing but chamomile. Children will delight in plucking found Easter eggs from this naturally fragrant “grass.”
Chamomile is perennial in zones 3 to 7, where it is dormant in winter and grows during warmer months. In warmer areas, plants often remain green through winter (zones 8 and 9) but may fade out during the heat of high summer.
Planting and Care
Set out transplants in full sun and well-drained soil after the last freeze in spring. These plants tolerate a wide range of soil pH from 5.5 to 8.0. Add lime only if your native soil is strongly acidic.
The flowers are your main objective, so consider shearing the tips of the plants early in growing season to encourage lots of branching for lots of flowers. Blooms are borne at the tips of the branches.
Leave some of the flowers to mature on the plant at the end of the season, and you’ll often find seedlings coming up next spring.
Troubleshooting
If you live in a climate where summer is too hot for chamomile, try to find a spot that will get some afternoon shade after the leaves come out on the trees. This will help prolong its life in your garden. Remember not to cut all the flowers for tea (see below), so that the plants will be able to reseed.
Harvesting and Storage
Unlike many herbs, the chamomile flower, not the leaf, is the useful portion of the plant. Clip flowers when the petals begin to turn back. Cut with scissors and lay them out to air dry on a paper towel. Store in an airtight container on the shelf or in the freezer.
Fresh Uses
The name chamomile means “ground apple,” referring to that delicious, apple-like fragrance it brings to herbal teas, as well as its low-growing habit. Use the dried blooms, or simply make a refreshing summer tea from the fresh flowers. A teaspoon of flowers to a cup of boiling water should steep 5 to 10 minutes. Consider mixing chamomile flowers with the foliage of lemon balm, mint, and other tea herbs to make your own herbal blend.