Chamaemelum nobile Chamomile from the family Asteraceae Jekka's Herb of the month, May
"Chamomile, one of our most favourite old garden herbs, is renowned for its sedative properties. Use its delicate flowers, fresh or dried, to make a calming herbal tea, or a hair rinse, or an eye wash. Plant a chamomile seat, sit down, smell the sweet aroma and sip a cooled chamomile infusion..summer is all around you. " Jekka McVicar
Chamomile is known as the 'Physician's Plant' because when planted next to sick plants, it helps them to revive. Roman Chamomile can be planted next to onions to repel flying insects and improve the crop yield.
Chamaemelum nobile Roman Chamomile
Chamomile flower
Chamomile species can be a bit confusing because a number of different plants share the same common name, such as Anthemis tinctoria Dyers Chamomile
- see below for all varieties grown here on the farm
Chamomile grows wild in Europe, North America, and many other countries. As a garden escapee, it can be found in pasture and other grassy places on sandy soils.
The generic name, Chamaemelum, is derived from the Greek Khamaimelon, meaning 'Earth Apple' or 'apple on the ground'.
A spray made from chamomile leaves and flowers
helps prevent 'damping off' of seedlings
Propagation
Seed: Dyers, Roman and German chamomile can be grown from seed. Chamomile has very fine seeds which may wash away when sown in the ground so it is best started early in early spring under protection. Sow onto the surface of a prepared seed or plug tray. Use a standard seed compost mixed in equal parts with composted fine bark. Cover with perlite. Use a bottom heat 19°C (65°F). Germination takes 14-20 days. Harden off and plant out or pot on.
Cuttings: Double-flowered chamomile and Chamomile Treneague can only be propagated in this way. Take cuttings in spring and autumn from the offsets or clusters of young shoots. They are very easy to grow as they have aerial roots.
Garden Cultivation: Chamomile prefers a well-drained soil and sunny situation, although it will adapt to most conditions.
As a lawn plant, chamomile removes the effort of mowing grass, however, the effort of maintaining it is no less onerous: there is no selective herbicide that will preserve chamomile and kill off the rest of the weeds - it is a hands and knees job.
Prepare the site well, making sure the soil is light, slighly acid and free from weeds and stones. Plant young plants in plug form. Jekka uses a mix of Double-flowered and Treneague Chamomile at a distance of 10-15cm (4-6in)apart. Keep all traffic off it for at least 12 weeks, and keep it to the minimum during the first year.
Double-flowered chamomile
Lawn chamomile
If cultivating a chamomile lawn sounds daunting, compromise and plant a chamomile seat instead. Prepare the soil in the same way and do not sit on the seat for at least 12 weeks.
Container Growing: Chamomile is not the best herb to grow indoors, as it becomes very leggy, soft and prone to disease. But chamomile flowers can look very cheerful in a sunny window box. Use Chamomile 'Flore Pleno' which has a lovely double head, or the non-flowering Chamomile Treneague as an infill between bulbs, with a standard potting compost mixed in equal parts with composted fine bark.
Harvesting: Gather chamomile leaves in spring and early summer for best results. Use fresh or dry. Pick chamomile flowers when fully open around mid-summer. Use fresh or dry. Dyers chamomile flowers should be harvested in summer for their yellow dye.
Use Double-flowered Chamomile 'Flore Pleno' for container growing
Use chamomile flowers as a rinse to brighten fair hair
Dyers chamomile makes a yellow dye
Uses:
Medicinal:German chamomile's highly scented dry flower heads contain up to 1 percent of an aromatic oil that possesses powerful antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. Taken as a tea, it promotes gastric secretions and improves the appetite, while an infusion of the same strength can be used as an internal antiseptic. It may also be used as a gargle for mouth ulcers and as an eye wash.
An oil for skin rashes or allergies can be made by tightly packing flower heads into a preserving jar, covering with olive oil and leaving in the sun for three weeks. If you suffer from overwrought nerves, add five or six drops of chamomile oil to the bath and this will help you relax at night.
Chamomile tea
1 heaped teaspoon chamomile flowers (dried or fresh)
1 teaspoon honey
slice of lemon (optional)
Put the chamomile flowers into a warm cup. Pour on just boiled water. Cover and leave to infuse for 3-5 minutes. Strain, and add the honey, and lemon if required. Can be drunk either hot or cold.
Cosmetic: Chamomile is used as a final rinse for fair hair, to make it brighter. Pour 1litre boiling water over one handful of chamomile flowers and steep for 30 minutes. Strain, cover and allow to cool. It should be poured over your hair several times.
Other uses: Dyers chamomile can be used as a dye plant. Depending on the mordant, its colour can vary from bright to olive/brown yellow.
German (not grown here on the farm) and Double-flowered chamomile are best for herb pillows and pot pourri.
How to Order: we currently grow 4 varieties
of Chamomile, listed below.
