Chamomile

Dried chamomile flowers sell for $10-16 per pound at natural food stores and herb markets (USDA AMS Specialty Crop Market News, 2023). Plant it once, let a few flowers go to seed at the end of the season, and you’ll have chamomile coming up in that spot every spring without replanting. German chamomile is genuinely one of the lowest-effort herb crops you can grow - it thrives in poor soil, tolerates drought, requires no fertilization, and the flowers dry easily at room temperature. The only real work is harvesting, which has to happen promptly when the flowers are fully open.

What it actually is

Two plants are sold as “chamomile,” and they grow and function differently.

German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla, also listed as M. recutita) is an annual, 18-24 inches tall, with small white flowers (1/2 to 3/4 inch diameter) on branching stems. This is the most widely grown, most commonly dried for tea, and the one with the best-documented apigenin content - the flavonoid compound associated with its sedative and anti-inflammatory properties (Janmejai K. Srivastava et al., “Chamomile: A herbal medicine of the past with bright future,” Molecular Medicine Reports, 2010). German chamomile self-sows freely.

Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) is a low-growing perennial (6-12 inches), spreading by runners, with a sweeter scent and slightly larger flowers. It’s used similarly but produces lower flower yields per plant. The perennial nature is appealing, but the yield per square foot is lower than German chamomile grown densely.

For flower production and tea making, German chamomile is the practical choice. All references here are to Matricaria chamomilla unless specified.

The ROI case

A packet of German chamomile seed costs $2.49 and contains 500-1,000 or more seeds. The seeds are tiny; you need very few per square foot. In a 4 x 4 foot bed, you can grow 16-20 plants and harvest 0.5-1 oz of dried flowers per plant over a season, for a total of 0.5-1.25 lb of dried flowers. At $12/lb average, that bed returns $6-15 in dried herb value from a $2.49 seed investment.

The ongoing economics are better. German chamomile self-sows with minimal encouragement - leave 10-15 seed heads on the plant at the end of season, and seedlings emerge the following spring. Your seed cost in subsequent years is zero. The bed essentially perpetuates itself.

Growing requirements

German chamomile is not demanding. It tolerates poor, sandy, low-fertility soil where most vegetables would struggle. High fertility actually works against you - too much nitrogen pushes leafy growth at the expense of flower production.

Sow seeds directly in the garden in early spring (it tolerates light frost) or in fall for overwintered germination in cold climates. Seeds need light to germinate - press them onto the soil surface and water in, but don’t bury them. Germination occurs at 50-70°F in 7-14 days. In warm soil, germination is faster but fewer seeds survive to maturity.

Thin to 8-10 inch spacing. Plants in crowded conditions produce fewer flowers and are more susceptible to fungal disease. Full sun (6+ hours) is required for best flower production.

Water 0.5-1 inch per week. Established plants are drought-tolerant and will survive dry periods, though drought stress accelerates bolting. No supplemental fertilization needed in most garden soils.

What goes wrong

Aphid colonies on new growth are common in spring. Insecticidal soap is effective; many beneficial insects also predate chamomile aphids once populations build.

Powdery mildew (Erysiphe spp.) appears as white powdery patches on leaves and stems in humid conditions or when plants are crowded. Good spacing prevents most cases. Affected plants still produce usable flowers but yields decline.

Thrips (Frankliniella spp.) damage flowers and reduce quality. Pyrethrin or spinosad applications during early flowering are effective where pressure is high.

Late-season mold on harvested flowers occurs if you try to dry them too slowly or in humid conditions. Dry flowers immediately after harvest in a single layer in a warm (80-95°F), well-ventilated space out of direct sun. A dehydrator set to 95°F produces consistent results in 1-2 hours.

Harvest and storage

Flowers are at peak quality when the white petals are fully reflexed (bent backward away from the yellow center) and the center dome is fully formed and bright yellow. Harvest before the center starts to turn brown or the petals begin to fall. This timing window is short - a matter of days per flower. Check plants every 2-3 days during peak bloom.

Harvest by rolling flowers between your fingers and pulling them cleanly off the stem, or use a chamomile comb (a hand-held rake-like tool designed for this purpose) that speeds picking considerably. A comb makes high-volume harvest feasible.

Spread flowers in a single layer on a drying screen or paper and dry at room temperature in a warm, ventilated space for 5-7 days, or in a dehydrator at 95°F for 1-2 hours. Dried flowers are ready when they feel papery and the centers crumble slightly. Store in glass jars away from light and heat. Properly dried chamomile retains potency for 12-18 months.

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Related crops: Arugula, Tomato, Calendula

Related reading: Companion Planting Basics - the mechanism behind brassica and tomato companion pairings with herbs