Chamomile

Overview

Chamomile is the classic bedtime tea - a small daisy-like herb whose dried flowers brew into a soft, apple-scented infusion traditionally drunk in the evening. It is one of the easiest tea plants to grow, thriving in poor soil and sun, and a single patch produces handfuls of flowers all summer. Both German and Roman chamomile are used; German is the usual choice for tea.

Identification & Appearance

A low, feathery plant with finely divided, thread-like leaves and small flowers - white petals around a domed golden centre, 1-2 cm across. German chamomile is an upright annual to 60 cm; Roman chamomile is a low, spreading perennial. The whole plant carries a sweet, apple-like scent when brushed.

Where It Grows

Native to Europe and western Asia, chamomile has naturalised widely across temperate regions, often seen on roadsides, field edges, and disturbed ground. It favours open, sunny sites and tolerates dry, poor soil that many herbs dislike.

How to Grow at Home

Sow seed thinly on the surface of a sunny, well-drained bed or pot in spring - chamomile needs light to germinate, so do not bury it. It is undemanding and self-seeds freely, returning year after year. Thin seedlings to give each room, and it will flower within a couple of months.

Growing Conditions

Light

Full sun is best; chamomile flowers poorly in shade.

Watering

Water young plants until established, then water sparingly - chamomile tolerates dry soil and dislikes constant wet.

Soil & Temperature

Light, well-drained, even poor soil; avoid rich or heavy ground. Hardy and happy in cool to warm temperate summers.

Harvesting & Brewing

Pick the flower heads near full bloom, snipping just the head from the stem, which Wisconsin Extension says gives the best quality (Wisconsin Extension); NC State suggests collecting herb flowers such as chamomile just before full flower, early in the morning after the dew dries but before the heat of the day (NC State Extension). The plants bloom from early to midsummer and keep producing heads until the seeds ripen in late summer, or until frost if you keep removing them (Wisconsin Extension). Use the heads fresh, or dry them indoors in a warm, dry, airy place out of the sun until they are brittle and crumble easily, then store them in rigid containers with tight lids in a cool, dark place (NC State Extension). To brew, steep about a tablespoon of dried flowers in hot water for 5 minutes, covered, to keep the aromatic oils in the cup.

Health & Benefits

Chamomile is one of the best-known evening teas, traditionally drunk for relaxation, sleep, and a settled stomach, and it is caffeine-free. The evidence is thinner than the reputation: the US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) says studies have not produced sufficient reliable evidence to rate its usefulness for specific conditions, and that the one study it found on insomnia showed no benefit. NCCIH considers chamomile likely safe in the amounts commonly found in teas, but notes that allergic reactions are more likely in people allergic to related plants such as ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, or daisies, that interactions with the blood thinner warfarin have been reported, and that little is known about its safety during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. These are traditional uses, not proven medical treatments, and chamomile tea is not a substitute for medical care.

Common Problems

• Few flowers - too much shade or overly rich soil; move to full sun.
• Leggy, floppy plants - overcrowded or overfed; thin and ease off feeding.
• Aphids on buds - rinse off or tolerate; usually minor.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Very easy; thrives in poor soil.
• Self-seeds and returns each year.
• Long flowering season - repeated harvests.

Cons

• Flowers are small and fiddly to pick in quantity.
• Annual German type must reseed each year.
• Can spread further than wanted.

Best Suited For

• Beginners wanting a foolproof tea herb.
• Anyone after a gentle, caffeine-free evening tea.
• Sunny, dry, or poor-soil spots.

Not ideal for shady gardens or those who dislike self-seeding plants.

FAQ

When is the best time to harvest chamomile? Near full bloom, on a morning after the dew has dried; snip just the flower heads, and keep picking through the summer, since removing them keeps the plant flowering until frost (Wisconsin Extension; NC State Extension).

German or Roman chamomile for tea? German chamomile is the usual tea plant - sweeter and more productive. Roman chamomile works too but is more bitter and lower-yielding.

Can I use fresh flowers? Yes, though fresh chamomile is milder; dried flowers give a fuller, more aromatic cup.

Will it come back next year? German chamomile is annual but self-seeds reliably, so a patch effectively returns on its own.