Scientific Name
Matricaria occidentalis Greene
Common Name(s)
Valley Mayweed
Synonym(s)
Chamomilla occidentalis
Scientific Classification
Family: Asteraceae
Subfamily: Asteroideae
Tribe: Anthemideae
Subtribe: Matricariinae
Genus: Matricaria
Flower
Color: Yellowish-green
Bloom Time: March to September
Description
Matricaria occidentalis is an annual plant with stems that grow up to 28 inches (70 cm) tall, often branched only distally. Flowerheads are not strongly scented, greenish-yellow, conical, and up to 0.6 inches (1.5 cm) in diameter.
Hardiness
It is grown as an annual plant, so it has no USDA hardiness zone.
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 part shade but 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 lots of 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 seeds, but growing Chamomile from seeds is also relatively easy.
For the most part, Chamomile is not affected by many pests. It is often recommended as a companion plant in the vegetable garden as its strong scent often keeps pests away. See more at How to Grow and Care for Chamomile Herb.
Origin
This species is native to North America.
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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