How to grow chamomile (german)
Family Asteraceae. Hardy to USDA hardiness zone 3a+ (U.S. Department of Agriculture). Full sun to part shade. Ready in 60-65 days.
Sun
Full sun to part shade
Spacing
6-8 in
Days to harvest
60-65 days
Hardiness
Zone 3a+
What growers actually recorded
Loading zone 7b results…
When to plant chamomile (german)
- Start indoors: ~6 weeks before last frost.
- Transplant out: ~-2 weeks after last frost.
- Direct sow: ~-2 weeks after last frost.
Companion plants for chamomile (german)
Plant with: Cabbage, Onion, Cucumber.
Common pests & problems
Rarely bothered; aphid on occasion.
Feeding & fertilizer
N-P-K ratio: Balanced 5-5-5 with steady N
Organic options: Compost tea every 2 wks · Fish emulsion between cuttings · Aged manure in bed prep
When to feed: Light and steady. Lettuce wants constant slow N to stay tender and mild.
Watch for: Bitter greens = heat or under-water, not fertilizer.
N = nitrogen (leaves), P = phosphorus (roots and flowers), K = potassium (fruit and disease resistance). How to read a fertilizer label →
Grower's tip
Pick flowers at midday once fully open, on a dry day, for the strongest tea; it dries quickly on a screen out of direct sun.
When to plant chamomile (german) in your zone
Free month-by-month sowing and transplanting lists, built from frost dates for your USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) hardiness zone.
Soil & water for chamomile (german)
Soil & pH
5.6-7.5: German chamomile tolerates a wider range; Roman chamomile prefers closer to neutral
Well-drained, average soil for both types.
Light compost at planting is sufficient for either type; avoid heavy feeding, which reduces flower production.
Watering
0.5-1 in / week
Base watering; German chamomile (an annual) needs slightly more consistent moisture while establishing than the mat-forming perennial Roman chamomile.
Established Roman chamomile tolerates light foot traffic and short dry spells, which is why it is sometimes used as a fragrant lawn substitute.
Knowing when to harvest
- Pick flower heads when petals are fully open and reflexed (bent back) from the yellow center, usually within a day or two of opening for peak oil content.
- Harvest every 2-3 days during bloom; frequent picking on German chamomile (an annual) also extends the flowering period.
- German chamomile blooms once through a season and then finishes; Roman chamomile is a low, spreading perennial that returns and can be sheared after bloom.
Storing & keeping
Air-dry flower heads on a screen in a dark, airy spot; store in a sealed jar out of light for up to a year for tea use, with strength gradually fading.
What to expect
Per plant: Repeated small harvests over the bloom period; German chamomile self-sows and can naturalize a bed if flowers are left to seed
Troubleshooting chamomile (german)
Chamomile plants spread and reseed into paths and beds each year
Likely cause: This is characteristic of German chamomile, a self-seeding annual, not disease or a mistake
What to do: Deadhead before seed drops if volunteer spread isn't wanted, or let it naturalize in an informal area.
Confusion about which chamomile is in the garden
Likely cause: German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) is an upright annual with a hollow flower cone, while Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) is a low, mat-forming, longer-lived perennial with a solid flower cone
What to do: Identify by growth habit and flower cross-section (cut one open) rather than by flavor alone; both are used for tea but behave very differently in the garden.
Roman chamomile lawn/groundcover thins out
Likely cause: Excess foot traffic or poor drainage
What to do: Limit heavy traffic and ensure the site drains well; shear lightly after flowering to keep it dense.
Varieties worth growing
German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla)
Annual, upright, the more common tea chamomile, self-sows readily.
Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile)
Low-growing, mat-forming perennial, sometimes used as a fragrant lawn substitute; a milder-flavored tea flower.
Growing chamomile (german) in containers
German chamomile grows well in a container from seed each year; Roman chamomile also works in a shallow, wide container as a perennial groundcover.
Nutrition
Vitamin K, folate, lutein. Most calories in the leaves come from water.
Common questions
Is German chamomile the same plant as Roman chamomile?
No, they are different genera. German chamomile is an upright, self-seeding annual and the more commonly grown tea flower; Roman chamomile is a low, spreading perennial sometimes used as a groundcover. Both produce a similar-tasting flower but have very different garden habits.
Why did my chamomile only bloom one season?
If it was German chamomile, that's expected: it is an annual. It typically self-sows, so volunteers often return the following spring on their own.
Where these numbers come from
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023 revision). Zone assignment and the 30-year normals behind every cold-hardiness figure.
- NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 Climate Normals. Frost dates, growing-season length, and the probability bands on both.
- Cornell, UMN, and UC Davis Cooperative Extension crop guides. Spacing, days to maturity, soil pH targets, and per-plant yield ranges.
- USDA FSIS / FDA Produce Safety guidance. Wash, cure, and cold-storage handling numbers.
Ranges are regional guidance, not a promise for your yard. Your own logged results always override the published range.