Dyer's Chamomile

Family: Asteraceae Herb

Planting Schedule

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Fragrant, apple-sweet chamomile blooms open into daisy-like clusters with a honeyed, golden perfume that fills the garden on warm afternoons.

Dyer's Chamomile forms sturdy, feathery foliage and produces abundant heads with a crisp, delicate texture—ideal for drying and for infusing the gentle, floral character that makes this herb a favorite. Grow it for its aromatic presence and its steady harvest of charming blossoms over a long, satisfying season.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 90 DaysHabit: Upright

Botanical illustration of Dyer's Chamomile

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Dyer's 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 13th	May 25th	Aug 23rd – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 3rd	May 15th	Aug 13th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 3rd	May 15th	Aug 13th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 7th	May 19th	Aug 17th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 3rd	May 15th	Aug 13th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 1st	May 13th	Aug 11th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Mar 27th	May 8th	Aug 6th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 23rd	May 4th	Aug 2nd – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 20th	May 1st	Jul 30th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 14th	Apr 25th	Jul 24th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 9th	Apr 20th	Jul 19th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Feb 27th	Apr 10th	Jul 9th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 18th	Apr 1st	Jun 30th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 9th	Mar 23rd	Jun 21st – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 23rd	Mar 6th	Jun 4th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 29th	Feb 9th	May 10th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 30th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	90
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Upright
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Surface
Germination Temp (°F)	65
Min Soil Temp (°F)	45
Min Night Temp (°F)	35
Harden Off (days)	7

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Dyer’s Chamomile leans into that unmistakable apple-honey floral lift, with a delicate crispness from the dried heads. Use it like a fragrance ingredient—steep briefly and lightly sweeten—so the gentle bitterness doesn’t steamroll the perfume.

Best Uses

hot or cold infusions (tea) that stay fragrant without getting harsh
drying the heads for a clean, perfume-forward steep
infusing cream, milk, or simple syrup for custards and panna cotta
finishing fruit salads or yogurt with sparingly used dried blossoms

Flavor Profile

apple-sweet floral aroma honeyed golden perfume light, crisp bloom texture when dried soothing, gently bitter finish

Kitchen Pairings

lemon honey vanilla almond milk or cream brown sugar

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease commonly affects Anthemis tinctoria (dyer’s chamomile), and what should I do?

A common problem is powdery mildew, which shows up as a white, dusty coating on leaves during warm, humid spells. Improve airflow by spacing plants adequately and watering at the soil line, then remove heavily infected foliage early. If mildew keeps coming back, use a labeled sulfur-based fungicide and reapply according to the label at the first signs on new growth.

How often should I water Anthemis tinctoria during its main growing phase?

During active growth (from establishment through early flowering), keep the top 1–2 inches of soil lightly moist but never soggy—typically watering about 1 inch per week total, adjusted for rainfall and heat. Let the soil dry slightly between waterings, since Anthemis tinctoria performs best in moderately dry conditions rather than consistently wet soil. Once plants are established, reduce watering because overly wet soil increases disease risk.

How can I tell when Anthemis tinctoria is ready to harvest?

Harvest when most flower heads are fully open and a high proportion of the ray florets are spread (usually around 90 days from sowing, depending on conditions). Pick on dry mornings after dew has evaporated to help the flowers dry evenly and reduce spoilage. Continue harvesting repeatedly as new heads open, but avoid harvesting when heads start turning brown and seed heads begin forming.