Imagine a soft, delicate carpet of light green dotted with cheerful white tiny daisies...you're dreaming of chamomile! Roman Chamomile is a soothing, comforting medicinal herb and also an elegant ground cover. It's a wonderful lawn substitute that takes well to cutting, shoots up beautiful white yellow flowers for pollinators, and can be harvested to use for its calming attributes. (Chamaemelum nobile)
Why We Love It
Here are some of the reasons why we love Roman Chamomile...
1) COMFORTING - Chamomile calms and reconnects the mind and the body. It's a great go to tea before sleep to drift away into a restful mindset.
2) RADIANT SKIN AND HAIR- Brew up a tea or infused oil to use topically for glowing skin and hair.
3) POLLINATOR PLANT AND COVER CROP - Roman chamomile stays much shorter and takes well to being cut back thus making it a great alternative for a "lawn" plant for low traffic areas. When in flower it is a great attractor plant for insects.
How to Grow It
Here's how to grow Roman Chamomile:
| SUN | FULL OR PART SUN |
| MOISTURE | KEEP MOIST ESPECIALLY DURING ESTABLISHMENT |
| GROWING ZONES | USDA 5-9 (Not sure? Find your growing zone here) |
| SIZE | 6 INCHES TALL, 1-3 FEET WIDTH |
| PRO TIP |
Roman Chamomile has stronger, more pungent flower heads than its annual counterpart German chamomile. Regular harvest of young flowers will keep your plant productive. Winter Sowing is the easiest way to start these seeds. Here's a seed-starting tutorial for you. You won't believe how easy it is! |
How to Harvest & Use It
You can harvest the flowers anytime they are full grown. It's best to harvest them after the dew has dried. You can use them fresh or dry in a tincture of tea.
Chamomile is very calming. The flowers make a delicious tea that is calming to the stomach and emotions. It makes a wonderful after-dinner tea to help wind down for bed. Chamomile supports digestion and helps to heal ulcers.
One of our favorite teas to support kids who are a little extra wiggly, is to combine lemon balm and chamomile into a yummy tea. Add a little maple syrup and a splash of milk, and you've got a wonderful, soothing tea.