Scientific Name
Matricaria chamomilla L.
Common Name(s)
Chamomile, Common Chamomile, German Chamomile, Hungarian Chamomile, Matricaria, Scented Chamomile, Scented Mayweed, Sweet False Chamomile, True Chamomile, Wild Chamomile, Mu Ju (Transcribed Chinese), Camomille Allemande (French), Camomille Vraie (French), Matricaire (French), Echte Kamille (German), Kamille (German), kamille (Transcribed Korean), Camomila (Portuguese), Camomila (Spanish), Manzanilla (Spanish), Kamomill (Swedish)
Synonym(s)
Chamomilla recutita, Matricaria courrantiana, Matricaria recutita
Scientific Classification
Family: Asteraceae
Subfamily: Asteroideae
Tribe: Anthemideae
Subtribe: Matricariinae
Genus: Matricaria
Flower
Color: White and yellow
Bloom Time: Early to mid-summer
Description
Matricaria chamomilla is a low-growing annual plant with erect, branched, hairy stems that grow up to 24 inches (60 cm) tall. The leaves are long and narrow, bipinnate or tripinnate.
The flowers are borne on long erect stalks and have white ray florets and a hollow, conical, yellow center. They bloom in early to mid-summer and have a strong aromatic smell. The fruits are small and dry.
How to Grow and Care
You can grow Chamomile herb in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 to 9. Chamomile grows best in cool conditions and should be planted in partial shade, but it will also grow in full sun. The soil should be dry. Once your Chamomile is established, it needs very little care. Like most herbs, it grows best when it is not fussed over. Too much fertilizer will result in weakly flavored foliage and few flowers. Chamomile is drought tolerant and only needs to be watered in times of prolonged drought.
Plant Chamomile in the spring from either seeds or plants. It's easier to establish Chamomile herb in your garden from plants or divisions than from seeds, but growing Chamomile from seed is also relatively easy.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Chamomile Herb.
Origin
Matricaria chamomilla is native to Europe.
Links
- Back to genus Matricaria
- Plantpedia: Browse flowering plants by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, or Origin
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