German Chamomile

Family: Asteraceae Herb

Aromas bloom first: German Chamomile fills the air with sweet, apple-like floral fragrance and a gentle, honeyed warmth.

The delicate, daisy-like heads open to reveal crisp, feathery petals around a bright golden center, with a softly herbaceous flavor that feels light on the palate. Grow this 70-day herb for fragrant infusions and soothing herbal blends, and for drying to capture its sunny character for later use.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 70 DaysHabit: Upright

Botanical illustration of German Chamomile

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Mar 28th
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 25th
Harvest Begins	Jul 4th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	70
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Upright
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Surface
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	45
Min Night Temp (°F)	35
Harden Off (days)	7

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

German Chamomile is built for aroma-forward drinks: steep it briefly so the honeyed, apple-floral character comes through without going bitter. Use it like a gentle perfume—best when warmed, where its golden head notes bloom cleanly.

Best Uses

tea and cold-steep infusions using dried or fresh heads
soothing herbal blends with other mild botanicals
drying the blooms for later warm drinks and fragrant syrup/cordial accents
infusing into custard or rice pudding base for a floral back-note

Flavor Profile

sweet apple-like floral fragrance gentle honeyed warmth light, softly herbaceous finish citrus-gold aroma when infused

Kitchen Pairings

honey lemon zest brown sugar milk vanilla ginger

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease most commonly affects Matricaria chamomilla (German chamomile), and how can I control it?

A common problem is powdery mildew, which shows up as a white, dusty coating on leaves during warm, humid spells. Improve airflow by thinning seedlings to about 8–12 in (20–30 cm) apart, water at the soil line in the morning, and remove badly infected foliage early. If needed, treat with a labeled organic fungicide (such as potassium bicarbonate or sulfur) and reapply according to the product label.

How often should I water Matricaria chamomilla during its main growing phase, and what soil moisture level is best?

During active growth, keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged—aim for top 1 in (2–3 cm) to dry slightly between waterings. Water deeply when the surface starts to dry, especially after transplanting or once seedlings are established, since chamomile has fine roots that suffer in consistently soggy soil. Full sun + steady moisture helps produce fuller, aromatic heads by the time buds form.

How do I know when Matricaria chamomilla is ready to harvest?

Harvest when the flower heads are fully open (the yellow center floret disk is open) and before they start dropping or browning. In German chamomile, this often occurs around 70 days from sowing, with a multi-week picking window as new heads form. Pick on a dry morning for the best quality—avoid harvesting right after rain or heavy dew.