How to grow chamomile in pots: types, sowing and harvest

Grow German chamomile in a pot of damp, free-draining mix, scatter the seed on the surface without covering it, and pick the flowers as they open. The RHS says plants can start flowering in as little as ten weeks from sowing. Keep the mix moist but not waterlogged, and put the pot in full sun.

Most people who search this want tea, and that settles which chamomile to buy. Two plants share the name. The seed packet should carry the Latin name, because the RHS notes that both types are sold simply as “chamomile”.

German or Roman: pick before you sow

German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) is a hardy annual up to 40 cm (16 in) tall, according to the RHS. Roman or common chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) is a hardy perennial up to 30 cm (12 in), with scented, feathery leaves. Wisconsin Extension describes Roman chamomile as spreading by creeping, rooting stems, and says it is used less in tea because it tastes more bitter than German.

For a pot, that gives you a simple rule:

• Tea from the flowers: German chamomile. It is an annual, so you sow it again each spring, or let some flowers drop seed.
• A low, scented plant that stays year to year: Roman chamomile. The RHS says dwarf varieties of common chamomile also suit containers.

Both are small, so neither needs a deep pot. Use a container with drainage holes and a loose mix. NC State Extension says German chamomile does best in well-drained soil and advises avoiding rich, heavy or wet soils. If you are weighing seed against a nursery plant, the seed or buy-a-plant guide sets out the trade-offs, and German chamomile is one of the cheap, quick ones from seed.

Sowing: surface only

The seed is tiny and needs light. The RHS says to scatter it thinly on the surface of damp seed compost, and Wisconsin Extension says to surface-sow and press it into the soil. Under warm conditions germination generally occurs within a week (Wisconsin Extension).

One source differs. A UC Master Gardeners fact sheet says to sow 1/8 inch deep. The RHS and Wisconsin both keep the seed uncovered or only pressed in, so start there and bury it only if you follow the UC depth.

Timing depends on where you live:

• Indoors first: Wisconsin Extension suggests starting seed 6 to 8 weeks before your average last frost date, then moving plants out after it. Find yours with the frost date guide.
• Direct in the pot: the RHS says to sow into warm soil from mid-spring. Wisconsin gives the window as shortly before the last frost, or in fall.

Chamomile does not like being moved when large. Wisconsin Extension says larger plants do not transplant well, so grow individually in containers or transplant when small, and NC State Extension says the same. Sow straight into the pot you intend to keep, or into small individual pots first.

Thin once seedlings are big enough to handle. The RHS says 15 cm (6 in) apart, which for a wide pot means a handful of plants rather than a crowd. UC Master Gardeners give 4 inches, when seedlings are 2 to 2.5 inches tall. Go closer for a dense mass of flowers, wider for sturdier plants.

Light, water and feeding

Give it full sun. NC State Extension says German chamomile thrives in full sun. For hours by herb, see the sunlight chart. UC Master Gardeners call it a cool-season, drought-tolerant annual that can still thrive in summer weather under 100°F.

Water is where a pot differs from a bed. The RHS says plants in containers dry out more quickly than those in the ground, so check daily and water as needed to keep the mix evenly moist, while taking care not to overwater, as chamomile dislikes very wet conditions. Wisconsin Extension adds that the roots are shallow, so the upper layer should stay moist but not wet. In practice that means a finger test each morning, and emptying any saucer. The RHS warns that waterlogging, especially in winter, can cause plants to rot.

Skip the fertiliser. The RHS says chamomile should grow and flower well without feeding, even in poor soil, and Wisconsin Extension says it does not need much fertilizer. Aphids are the pest to watch for, according to Wisconsin and NC State Extension. For general potted-herb routines, see potted herb care.

Harvesting the flowers

Pick newly opened flowers throughout the summer (RHS). UC Master Gardeners say to harvest just as the flowers are fully open but before the petals dry up. Wisconsin Extension says to harvest near full bloom for best quality, snipping only the flower head from the stem.

Picking is also how you keep the pot going. The RHS says the more flowers you harvest, the more it will produce. Wisconsin notes that plants readily self-seed unless all flower heads are removed, so leave a few on if you want volunteers next spring and pick them all if you do not.

If a Roman chamomile turns leggy, the RHS says to clip it back several times through the growing season to keep it compact.

Drying and storing

Fresh flowers make tea, and so do dried ones. For drying, the RHS says to spread them in a single layer on a tray somewhere warm and dry, out of direct sunlight, for a week or two. Once fully dry, store them in an airtight jar in a cool, dark place. The RHS says dried flowers can be stored for up to a year. Other methods and temperature limits are in the drying herbs guide.

A caution for allergy sufferers

NC State Extension says allergic skin reactions or oral swelling can occur in people with ragweed allergies. If you react to daisy-family plants, handle it with care, and think before drinking the tea.

Sources

• RHS, How to grow chamomile
• University of Wisconsin Extension, German chamomile
• UC Master Gardeners, Chamomile growing information fact sheet
• NC State Extension Plant Toolbox, Matricaria chamomilla