Chamomile plant (Matricaria chamomilla) is a flowering herb in the Asteraceae plant family (Aster plants), grown primarily for medicinal purposes and herbal tea, which many people use to relax.
The chamomile plant is a cheerful ornamental herb and plant with a pleasant aroma, and many people drink its tea to relax.
Chamomile plants can add beauty to the garden and may have sedative properties although they are not usually a good choice for a bedding plant because it’s too floppy and insignificant when paired with more formal and imposing plants.
It can, however, be used as an under-planting in herb or vegetable garden and is an excellent candidate for pots where it is easily accessible.
When the chamomile flowers are fully opened, harvest them. They can be eaten fresh or dried and stored for later.
If the leaves make your tea too bitter, leave them out and harvest only the flowers. Flower heads can also be used to make an extract that can aid in digestion.
Cabbage, Lettuce, Spinach, Calendula, Cilantro, Feverfew, and Mint are some of its companions.
In the spring, leafy greens, as well as herbs and flowers that bloom in the spring, are grown.
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Chamomile Plant Varieties
There are two varieties of chamomile: Roman chamomile plant (Chamaemelum Nobile) and German chamomile plant (Matricaria recutita).
The true chamomile is Roman chamomile, but German chamomile is widely used as an herb for similar purposes.
Growing Roman chamomile and growing German chamomile are nearly identical in terms of growing steps.
Russian chamomile and English chamomile are other names for Roman chamomile.
It is a mat-forming creeping ground cover. It blooms with small daisy-like flowers that have yellow centers and white petals.
The leaves have a feathery texture and It’s a year-round plant.
German chamomile resembles Roman chamomile in appearance, but it grows upright to a height of about 1 to 2 feet (30 to 61 cm) and is a reseeding annual.
German chamomile is an annual plant, but it self-seeds so readily that you might mistake it for a perennial, like Roman chamomile.
Both are simple to care for in the garden and require few extras to thrive.
German chamomile produces more flowers than Roman chamomile, but Roman chamomile has more fragrant blooms.
Both varieties can be used fresh from the plant, or dried in a cool, dark environment and stored in an airtight container (or frozen) until ready to use.
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Characteristics of Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum Nobile) and German chamomile (Matricaria recutita)
The characteristics and distinguishing features of Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum Nobile) and German chamomile are listed below (Matricaria recutita)
1. Both are native to Europe and have medicinal properties and are frequently used interchangeably in herbal remedies and skincare.
2. They both have fragrant, daisy-like flowers with white petals encircling a yellow center.
3. Chamomile varietals grow quickly (reaching full bloom in about 10 weeks) and are best planted in the spring, either from seed or as young plants.
4. Roman chamomile is frequently used as a ground cover or creeping plant to soften the edges of a stone wall or walkway, whereas German chamomile is more commonly used to make tea.
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How to Grow Chamomile Plant (Chamomile Plant Care)
Because both types of chamomile grow in similar conditions, we will refer to them as chamomile from now on.
Chamomile plants can be planted from seeds or plants in the spring.
Chamomile plants are easier to establish in your garden from plants or divisions than from seeds but growing chamomile from seed is also relatively simple.
Chamomile grows best in cool weather and should be planted in partial shade, but it can also be grown in full sun.
Chamomile is a simple plant to grow from seed. Plant seeds indoors six weeks before the last expected frost date.
Chamomile seeds require light to germinate, so scatter them and press them firmly into the soil, but do not cover them with soil.
Water them regularly, and they should germinate in seven to fourteen days.
You can also direct-seed chamomile outside, but you’ll get better germination if you do it in the fall and let the seed stratify over winter for a spring crop.
1) Soil Requirement
The chamomile plant requires fertile, well-drained soil, and once established, it requires very little care.
Chamomile, like most herbs, grows best when left alone. Both types of chamomile flowers are best when grown in rich, organic soil.
They can survive in poorer mixtures, but their stems will often be much floppier as a result.
Furthermore, chamomile is unconcerned about soil pH, preferring a neutral range of 5.6 to 7.5.
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2) Fertilizer Requirement
Too much fertilizer results in a lot of bland-tasting foliage and fewer flowers.
Chamomile does not require fertilizer and grows quickly without any special care.
3) Water Requirement
Chamomile is drought tolerant and only requires watering during periods of prolonged drought.
Chamomile, for the most part, is not affected by many pests. It is frequently recommended as a companion plant to plant in the vegetable garden because its strong scent deters pests.
However, a chamomile plant that has been weakened by a lack of water or other factors may be attacked by aphids, mealybugs, or thrips.
Water chamomile about an inch per week if it is a young plant.
Plants, once established, become very drought tolerant as they age. It’s best to let your plants dry out between moderate waterings.
Chamomile, on the other hand, prefers a little more moisture in extremely hot climates.
4) Space Requirement
11″ (30cm) each way for single plants (minimum)
Rows: 9″ (25cm) with a row gap of 1′ 3″ (40cm) (minimum)
5) Light Requirement
Both Roman and German chamomile thrive in full sun or partial shade.
The plants will flower best in full sun, but in hot climates, a bit of partial shade (especially during the hot afternoon hours) is a better choice to avoid burning the delicate blooms.
More sunlight usually results in faster growth, but because this plant grows quickly by nature, this may not be an issue.
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6) Temperature and Humidity
Chamomile can grow in any summer weather that is less than 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Having said that, it prefers a temperature range of 60 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
It does not require special humidity considerations because it is drought-tolerant.
7) Common Pests and Problems with Chamomile Plant
Chamomile repels most insects. It is used to keep cucumber pests at bay.
Aphids and thrips, on the other hand, can be a nuisance at times.
Both can be removed by washing the plant or using insecticidal soap.
Chamomile is a simple herb to grow, both inside and out, and it has few pests.
But now and then, a litmus test is required.
1) Brown Spots on the Leaves
This can be a symptom of a variety of fungal plant diseases, including botrytis blight.
It can be fixed by spraying your plant with fungicidal oil.
2) Leaves Turn Brown and Fall Off
If this happens to your chamomile, it could be because it is getting too much water.
Reduce your water consumption to see if it makes a difference.
Cut branches when they have a lot of open flowers on them and hang them in small bunches to dry.
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8) Harvesting
Chamomile tea is only made from blossoms.
When the stems are completely dry, remove the blossoms and store them in an airtight container.
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