German Chamomile
- botanical name: Matriciaria recutita
- annual
- height 6-24″
- spacing 8″ apart, in rows 18″ apart
- full sun tolerant
- average soil
- flower color white with yellow centers
- uses in garden: in containers, cut flowers, fragrant, ground cover
- use in teas, to flavor fruit dishes, edible flowers used in salads
*Please note: We accept plant orders at any time of the year and if you prefer to place an order outside our regular shipping months of April-May, ordering is still easy. “Why we only ship in April and May”
Due to the nature of shipping live plants, when you place an order, we will simply hold your order and ship it at the proper time for your zone, when weather permits in April 2014. Seed packets are shipped year round through USPS.
For more information see our “Ordering and Shipping Policy.”
The more popular of the two lovely plants named chamomile (the other being Roman), German chamomile has extensive medicinal and culinary uses. Both leaves and flowers can be used. The flowers have a delightful scent: pineapple to some, apple to others. Chamomile tea is one of the most popular herbal teas, for its flavor and relaxing, sleep-inducing properties. In a similar way, its flowers sprinkled in a hot bath before bedtime are very sweet and calming.
Chamomile is commonly used in alternative medicine for its anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic qualities, and sometimes in cosmetics for its anti-allergenic properties. It is very good for the muscular and digestive systems, and soothes irritated tissue.
German Chamomile seeds are also available. Purchase them here.
Sowing Information:
Indoors – seeds should be started indoors in flats 4-6 weeks before transplanting to the garden. Seeds need light for germination. Press seeds gently into the surface of the growing medium. Mist to moisten and keep the surface moist. Keep flats at alternating temps of 68-86 degrees F. between night and day until germination. 10-14 days for germination. Transplant when seedlings are one to two inches tall (3-4 true leaves) as older seedlings do not transplant well. Final spacing 8″ apart, in rows 18″ apart.
Outdoors – direct seed as soon as soil can be worked. Grow in full sun in sandy loam that is well-drained and fertile. Scatter the tiny seeds in a narrow band and cover shallowly. Keep moist until germination. Thin to clusters of 2-3 plants space 8″ apart, in rows 18″ apart. Self sows readily. 60-65 days to harvest.
Harvest – gather flowers when in full bloom. Three to four cuttings are possible in one growing season. To dry, place flower heads one layer deep on a screen in a dry place out of direct sunlight and with good ventilation. Stir periodically over several days until dry.
