Scented mayweed Matricaria recutita

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

An annual with much divided, aromatic foliage, scented mayweedhas daisy-like flowers- white rays withyellow disc florets-which are borne singly on stemsfrom June to August

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Asteraceae.
- Synonyms
  German Chamomile, Chamomile, Camomile, Blue Chamomile, Wild Chamomile, Scented Mayweed, Balder's Eyebrows, Water of Youth.
- Common names
  Chamomilla recutita, Matricaria chamomilla, Chamomilla suaveolens, Matricaria suaveolens.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Annuals
- Foliage type
  Deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  White
- Height
  1-2 feet (30-60 cm)
- Spread
  1-2 feet (30-60 cm)
- Plant type
  Herb
- Hardiness zones
  2-9
- Native area
  Europe

Benefits

General Benefits
- Relaxation: Matricaria recutita, commonly known as chamomile, has natural properties that help in relaxation and stress reduction.
- Sleep Aid: The plant is often used in teas to promote better sleep and to combat insomnia.
- Skin Care: Chamomile contains compounds that may soothe skin irritations and enhance skin health when used in topical applications.
- Digestive Health: It can help in soothing gastrointestinal issues and aid in digestion when consumed as a tea.
- Anti-inflammatory: The plant has natural anti-inflammatory properties, which can help reduce inflammation when used externally or internally.
- Mild Sedative: Chamomile has mild sedative effects, making it useful for calming nerves and reducing anxiety.
- Menstrual Pain Relief: Drinking chamomile tea has been associated with relief in menstrual cramps for some individuals.
- Oral Health: Chamomile is an ingredient in some mouthwashes and dental applications due to its ability to help in maintaining oral health.
- Aromatherapy: The pleasant aroma of chamomile is often used in aromatherapy for relaxation and stress alleviation.
- Culinary Uses: Besides medicinal benefits, chamomile flowers are used in various culinary applications, mostly for flavoring and adding a floral note to dishes and beverages.
Medical Properties
- Anti-inflammatory: Chamomile contains compounds that may reduce inflammation and swelling.
- Antispasmodic: It is known to relieve smooth muscle spasms, particularly in the gastrointestinal tract.
- Carminative: Chamomile can help to relieve gas and bloating.
- Anxiolytic: The plant has mild sedative properties which can help to reduce anxiety.
- Antimicrobial: It has been shown to possess antimicrobial activities, which can help in fighting infections.
- Wound healing: Chamomile may promote wound healing due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
- Gastroprotective: May protect the lining of the stomach and support digestive health.
- Sedative: It is commonly used to promote relaxation and improve sleep quality.
- Antioxidant: Chamomile contains antioxidants that can help protect the body from oxidative stress.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- Chamomile can be used as a natural hair lightener when rinsed through hair, it gradually lightens the hair tone and can produce golden highlights over time.
- The plant is often used as a natural fabric dye, producing a yellow-beige color, especially when used on wool or silk.
- Chamomile flowers can be added to potpourri mixtures for a pleasant and calming fragrance throughout the home.
- Used as a natural lawn replacement, chamomile can create an aromatic, low-maintenance ground cover that withstands light foot traffic.
- The dried flowers have historically been used to stuff pillows or sachets to promote relaxation and sleep.
- In compost, chamomile can serve as a compost activator, helping to accelerate the decomposition process due to its high levels of calcium and potassium.
- Gardeners use chamomile tea or spray as a mild fungicide and plant tonic, promoting the health and strength of other plants nearby.
- It's been utilized in some natural insect repellent recipes, aiming to ward off mosquitoes and other pests.
- Chamomile flowers are sometimes incorporated into candles and natural room fresheners for their pleasant scent and soothing properties.
- As a gentle abrasive, dried chamomile can be used in homemade cleaning products for surfaces like countertops and sinks.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The Chamomile is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The Chamomile is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Peace: Matricaria recutita, commonly known as Chamomile, is often associated with peace and tranquility due to its calming effect when used as a tea or herbal remedy.
- Healing: Chamomile has been used medicinally for centuries to treat various ailments, symbolizing healing and restoration of health.
- Purity: The dainty white flowers and clean fragrance of Chamomile are emblematic of purity and innocence.
- Patience: The plant's ability to grow in difficult conditions represents patience and the ability to withstand challenges.
- Humility: Chamomile's unassuming appearance and low-growing habit symbolize humility and a down-to-earth nature.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every year

Repotting

🌱️

Spring to early summer

Propogation

✂️️

Not needed

Pruning

Water
Chamomile should be watered deeply, allowing the water to penetrate the soil to a depth of at least an inch. Young chamomile plants should be watered more frequently, about once every week, to help them establish roots. Once established, chamomile becomes quite drought-tolerant and requires water only every two weeks unless the weather is exceptionally hot or dry. Depending on the soil's moisture level and the climate conditions, watering may vary, but ensure that the plant receives about one gallon per week during its growing season. Always check the soil before watering; it should be dry to the touch at the top before you water again.
Light
Chamomile thrives best in full sun to partial shade. It should receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day, which promotes healthy growth and optimal flowering. The ideal spot for chamomile would be an area that is exposed to morning sunlight and is perhaps lightly shaded during the hottest part of the afternoon, although it's quite tolerant of full sun throughout the day.
Temperature
Chamomile prefers a temperate climate with temperatures ranging between 38 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The ideal temperature for growing chamomile is between 60 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit, which helps it to flourish and produce flowers. While it can survive mild frosts, temperatures falling below 38 degrees for extended periods may damage or kill the plant.
Pruning
Chamomile benefits from occasional pruning to encourage fuller growth and more vigorous flowering. Trim back leggy stems by one-third to one-half in the early to mid-summer to promote bushier growth. Deadheading, or removing spent flowers, should be done regularly to extend the blooming period. Pruning is best done on a dry day to avoid spreading any diseases.
Cleaning
Not needed
Soil
Chamomile thrives in well-draining, loamy soil with a pH of 5.6 to 7.5. A mix with equal parts garden soil, sand, and peat or compost works well to provide the necessary nutrients and drainage for this plant.
Repotting
Chamomile, commonly known as German Chamomile, does not need frequent repotting. It can be repotted once every 1-2 years or as needed if it outgrows its container or the soil becomes depleted.
Humidity & Misting
German Chamomile prefers a relatively normal to slightly humid environment, with the best humidity level ranging from 40-70%. This plant is quite adaptable and can tolerate a range of indoor humidity levels.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place in bright, indirect light and ensure good air circulation for indoor Chamomile.
- Outdoor
  Plant in full sun to part shade and water regularly for outdoor Chamomile.
- Hardiness zone
  5-8 USDA
Life cycle
Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) begins its life cycle with the germination of seeds, typically in the early spring, where they require sunlight to sprout. Seedlings emerge and develop into small rosettes of leaves close to the ground. As the plant matures, it produces a branching stem and a multitude of feathery leaves. The next stage is the flowering phase, where chamomile produces its characteristic white-petaled flowers with yellow centers that bloom from early summer to late fall. After pollination, typically by insects, the flowers develop into small, dry, one-seeded fruits called achenes. With the end of the blooming season and seed maturation, the plant withers and completes its life cycle, relying on the newly formed seeds to propagate the next generation.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring to early summer
- When it comes to propagating Chamomile, also known by its scientific name Matricaria recutita, the most popular and efficient method is through seed sowing. For optimal results, it is best to sow chamomile seeds outdoors in the spring after the risk of frost has passed. The seeds require light for germination, so they should be sprinkled onto the surface of the soil and pressed down gently without covering them with additional soil. Keeping the soil moist but not drenched is critical for germination, which usually takes anywhere from 7 to 14 days. Once seedlings have emerged and grown to at least a couple of inches tall with true leaves, they can be thinned out to prevent overcrowding. Chamomile plants are quite easy to spread through seed sowing and can often self-seed in suitable growing conditions, leading to chamomile patches that return year after year.