How to grow Chamomile
Updated October 2026
German chamomile is a quick, easy annual in the daisy family grown for its small, apple scented white and yellow flowers, which are dried for tea. It grows well in poor soil, needs little care, draws beneficial insects and reseeds itself so readily that it can seem perennial. It flowers best in cool weather, so in the South it is sown in fall and winter.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Chamomile
Not to be confused with: Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) is a low, creeping perennial often used as an aromatic groundcover, hardy in about zones 4 to 9. German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) is the taller annual usually grown for tea.
Where to plant
Grow German chamomile in full sun and well drained soil. It does well in poor soil and needs little fertilizer, and it fits into herb gardens, vegetable beds and pots.
In Florida, the Gulf South, Texas, the desert and Southern California, sow in fall and winter for flowers through the cool months; summer heat ends it. In the Mid-South and Mid-Atlantic, sow in late winter or early spring and again in late summer. Across the North, the Midwest, the Mountain West and Alaska, sow in fall or shortly before the last spring frost, or start seed indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost.
How to plant
- Sow directly in fall or shortly before the last spring frost, or indoors 6 to 8 weeks before it.
- Scatter the tiny seed on the surface and press it in without covering; it needs light to germinate.
- Keep the surface moist until seedlings appear.
- Thin to about 8 inches (20 cm) apart, or let small clumps grow together in a patch.
- Sow small batches a few weeks apart for a longer flowering season.
Watering and feeding
Keep seedlings moist, then water only in dry spells. Chamomile is fairly drought tolerant once established and does poorly in soggy soil.
It grows well in poor soil and needs little or no fertilizer.
Pruning and care through the year
- Pick flowers often to keep new ones coming.
- Leave a few flower heads to drop seed if you want a new crop next season; chamomile reseeds readily.
- Pull plants once they become leggy and flowering slows in hot weather.
Harvesting flowers for tea
Harvest the flowers when they are near full bloom, snipping just the flower heads from the stems, on a dry morning after any dew has gone. Pick every few days as new flowers open.
Use them fresh, or spread them in a single layer somewhere warm, airy and out of direct sun until completely dry, then store in an airtight jar. Steep a spoonful of dried flowers in hot water for tea.
Growing in pots
Chamomile grows well in a pot or window box at least 8 inches (20 cm) wide in full sun, with a free draining mix. Sow on the surface and thin to a few plants.
Companion planting
Chamomile's small flowers draw hoverflies and tiny parasitic wasps, which help control aphids and caterpillars in the vegetable garden.
Good companions
Pests and diseases
Chamomile has few pest problems other than aphids.
Pests to watch for
- Aphids Clusters on stem tips and flower buds.
Diseases to watch for
- Damping off Seedlings collapsing at the soil line in cold, wet conditions.
Common questions
Should I cover chamomile seed?
No. The seed needs light to germinate, so scatter it on the surface and press it in gently, then keep it moist.
What is the difference between German and Roman chamomile?
German chamomile is a taller annual grown mainly for tea. Roman chamomile is a low, creeping perennial often used as a fragrant groundcover.
When do I harvest chamomile for tea?
When the flowers are near full bloom. Snip off just the flower heads on a dry day and use them fresh or dry them out of the sun.
Does chamomile come back every year?
German chamomile is an annual, but it reseeds so readily that new plants usually come up each year. Roman chamomile is a true perennial.
Can people with allergies drink chamomile?
Chamomile is in the same family as ragweed, and people allergic to ragweed may react to it. Check with a doctor if you have such allergies.
When should I plant chamomile in Florida?
In fall and winter, so it grows and flowers in the cool months. It fades in summer heat.
Sources we checked: University of Wisconsin Extension: German Chamomile, Matricaria chamomilla; NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Matricaria chamomilla; NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Chamaemelum nobile; UC Master Gardeners: Chamomile growing information.
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