German Chamomile

Matricaria chamomilla

perennial☀️ full sun💧 low waterZone 2a – Zone 9b

German Chamomile is a delicate, feathery-leaved annual to short-lived perennial with small white and yellow daisy-like flowers prized for herbal tea and traditional medicine. It self-seeds readily and thrives in poor soils, making it an excellent addition to medicinal gardens and pollinator-supporting landscapes.

Overview

Form: Upright
Growth Rate: fast
Size: 1–2.5′ tall × 0.5–1.5′ wide
Dormancy: deciduous

Tolerances & Soil

Zone 2aZone 9b

1471013

ColderWarmer

Seasonality

Bloom Season

Harvest Season

Season of Interest

Summer

Herb

Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.

Succession Role

pioneerearly successional

Native Range

Central and Eastern Europe

Function & Care

medicinalpollinator nectarywildlife benefitedible

Edible Parts

flower

Establishment & Care

Establishment: easy
Maintenance: low
Years to Bearing: 0 years
Propagation: seed

Companion Planting

Plants well with

apple

Malus domestica

Chamomile attracts beneficial hover flies and parasitic wasps that feed on apple aphids and codling moth larvae; used as an understory companion in traditional European orchards.

cabbage, broccoli, and allies

Brassica oleracea

Chamomile enhances brassica flavor and vigor while attracting parasitic wasps that control cabbage pests. It also accumulates minerals that improve soil for brassicas.