Calypso Chamomile

Family: Asteraceae Herb

Planting Schedule

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Aromas of apple-sweet chamomile drift up as the delicate, daisy-like blooms open—fragrant, honeyed, and impossibly calming.

Calypso Chamomile forms tidy, branching plants with fine, feathery foliage and abundant flowers that deliver a gentle, floral flavor with a crisp, airy texture. Grow it for soothing herbal infusions and for drying—its blossoms hold their character beautifully for later use in teas and calming blends.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 70 DaysHabit: Upright

Botanical illustration of Calypso Chamomile

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Calypso Chamomile Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2a	Apr 27th	May 25th	Aug 3rd – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jul 24th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jul 24th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 21st	May 19th	Jul 28th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jul 24th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 15th	May 13th	Jul 22nd – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Apr 10th	May 8th	Jul 17th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Apr 6th	May 4th	Jul 13th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Apr 3rd	May 1st	Jul 10th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 28th	Apr 25th	Jul 4th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 23rd	Apr 20th	Jun 29th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Mar 13th	Apr 10th	Jun 19th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Mar 4th	Apr 1st	Jun 10th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 23rd	Mar 23rd	Jun 1st – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Feb 6th	Mar 6th	May 15th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Jan 12th	Feb 9th	Apr 20th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	70
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Upright
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Surface
Germination Temp (°F)	65
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	35
Harden Off (days)	7

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Calypso chamomile drinks like a soft floral perfume—apple-sweet at first sip, then a clean, faintly bitter finish that never gets heavy. It’s especially good when you steep gently (or steep, then strain fast) so the blossoms keep their honeyed lift instead of turning tannic.

Best Uses

steeping blossoms for soothing hot or iced herbal tea
drying blooms to preserve their honeyed perfume for winter infusions
folding into custards or panna cotta as a floral, low-heat steep
infusing syrup or honey for teatime drizzle and rim-sugar aromatics

Flavor Profile

apple-sweet floral aroma honeyed, gentle bitterness light, airy crunch from dried petals clean chamomile finish

Kitchen Pairings

lemon zest honey vanilla milk or cream ginger

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease problem most often affects Matricaria chamomilla (German chamomile), and how do I treat it?

German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) commonly suffers from powdery mildew in warm, humid conditions. Improve airflow by spacing plants and watering the soil (not the foliage), then spray an appropriate labeled fungicide for powdery mildew if infection is starting to spread. Remove the most heavily affected leaves early to slow further mildew buildup.

How often should I water Matricaria chamomilla during its main growing phase?

During the main growth phase, keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged—aim for consistent moisture in the top few inches as plants establish. Water about 1–2 times per week depending on heat and soil, increasing frequency during hot spells and reducing it if the soil stays damp. Avoid soaking the crown because chamomile is prone to stress when roots sit in saturated soil.

How can I tell when Matricaria chamomilla is ready to harvest for best quality?

Harvest when the flower heads are fully open and the central disk is actively yellow, with the white ray petals positioned around the disk. For the best potency, pick in the morning after dew dries and before midday heat fades the bloom. If you wait until petals start to curl downward and brown, the heads are past peak for drying and tea use.