A cup of hot chamomile tea is the perfect way to end to any day, as it helps to calm the mind and relax the spirit. I know that I enjoy it most evenings. Beyond its ability to tame frayed nerves, chamomile has many other benefits, both for the garden and for us. I love growing chamomile for so many reasons! Here are my top ten reasons to grow chamomile in your herb garden.
10 Reasons to Grow Chamomile
Chamomile is Easy to Grow From Seed
Not all flowers are easy to grow from seed, but chamomile is one exception. It also reseeds itself very readily, so will often come back year after year on its own.
The tiny seeds need sunlight to germinate, so spread them on the surface of the soil and gently tamp them down. Keep the soil damp and they will usually sprout within a week or so.
Here is more info on growing chamomile.
Chamomile is an Excellent Companion Plant
Chamomile is naturally antibacterial and antifungal, so it is the perfect plant for companion planting. Plant them around your apple or other fruit trees to prevent fungal infections.
It is especially beneficial to plant chamomile around brassicas (broccoli, kale, cabbage, etc.), onions, beans, and cucumbers. If you have chamomile plants next to other herbs like basil, rosemary, and mint it will help to increase their oil production, making them more potent.
Here is more info on using chamomile and other plants for companion planting.
Chamomile Attracts Beneficial Insects and Pollinators
In conjunction with being a companion plant, chamomile helps to attract beneficial insects and pollinators to the garden. Hoverflies, beneficial wasps, ladybugs, and honey bees are all attracted to chamomile.
As an added benefit, chamomile has also been known to deter mosquitoes!
Chamomile Tea Can Be Used in the Garden
Chamomile tea isn’t just good for us, it’s also good for our garden! Brew some up and use it in a spray bottle on seedlings to help prevent damping off, a common fungal infection.
It’s also a natural insecticide for unwanted bugs like aphids, but won’t harm bees.
You can also use chamomile tea as an organic fertilizer for plants, similar to how I use comfrey tea in the garden.
Chamomile Plants are a Green Mulch and Good for Compost
Since chamomile is high in nutrients and grows a large amount of greenery, it makes a great mulch for chopping and dropping. This simply means cutting the plant down at the end of the season and leaving it in place as a natural mulch.
Chamomile plants are also good for the compost pile due to its high mineral content. Read more about herbs for the compost pile here.
Chamomile Flowers are Edible (and Delicious!)
I love edible flowers, and chamomile are one of my favorites! They aren’t overpowering like some can be, and fresh chamomile flowers have a certain sweetness to them that can’t even be described.
They are particularly nice in desserts like this strawberry chamomile cake or these lemon chamomile shortbread cookies.
I think I’m going to have to try these honey chamomile popsicles sometime soon, too!
Chamomile Promotes Relaxation and Sleep
Chamomile is a wonderful herb for relaxation and sleep, which is why it’s so popular as an evening tea. As a nervine herb, it also helps to relieve stress and anxiety.
Beyond tea, it also has powerful aromatherapy benefits for relaxation and stress.
Chamomile is Beneficial for Digestion
Another powerful medicinal property of chamomile is its action on the digestive tract. It is anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic, making it soothing for the entire digestive system. It also helps to reduce gas and stomach upset.
Drink a cup of chamomile tea after a meal to help with digestion.
Chamomile is Great for Skin and Hair Care
Chamomile is a common ingredient in skin and hair care products as it is soothing and good for itchy and very dry skin. Make your own soap with this chamomile almost castile soap recipe, or try this lovely sounding chamomile lavender lotion.
It can also be made into a hair rinse and may even help to lighten the hair naturally.
Chamomile is a Children’s Herb
One of chamomile’s best qualities is that it is an excellent and safe herb for children. Chamomile is high in vitamins and minerals that are essential for a growing body.
Chamomile tea is especially calming for children and may help them relax and sleep. You can use it in a calming chamomile tea bath that is also great for the skin.
It can help with an upset stomach and digestion, and may even provide some relief to teething babies.
Chamomile is an amazing herb that I always have growing in my herb garden so that I can utilize its many benefits. I hope these reasons to grow chamomile will inspire you to grow some yourself!
If you don’t want to grow it, but still want to enjoy its benefits, I recommend purchasing chamomile from Mountain Rose Herbs. They are my favorite place to get high quality, organic dried herbs!
What is your favorite way to use chamomile?
As a seasoned horticulturist and herbal enthusiast with extensive experience cultivating various herbs, including chamomile, I'm delighted to discuss the multifaceted properties and uses of this remarkable plant.
Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) is a versatile herb renowned for its therapeutic benefits and utility both in gardens and daily life. Here's an in-depth exploration of concepts mentioned in the article:
1. Ease of Cultivation and Regeneration
Chamomile indeed stands out for its simplicity in cultivation from seeds. Its self-reseeding nature ensures recurring growth, making it a low-maintenance addition to herb gardens. The preference for sunlight during germination and its rapid sprouting within a week aligns with my personal experience.
2. Companion Planting Benefits
The antibacterial and antifungal properties of chamomile make it an excellent companion plant, particularly effective when planted alongside certain vegetables and herbs. Its association with apple or fruit trees to deter fungal infections, and its positive impact on neighboring plants' oil production, resonates with my practice of intercropping chamomile with various crops.
3. Attracting Beneficial Insects
Chamomile's role in attracting beneficial insects such as ladybugs, hoverflies, and pollinators like honey bees, aligns with its function in my garden ecosystem. Additionally, its reported ability to repel mosquitoes is an added advantage, contributing to a more balanced and thriving garden environment.
4. Garden Applications of Chamomile Tea
The utilization of chamomile tea as a natural deterrent against damping-off in seedlings and as a mild insecticide while ensuring the safety of beneficial bees resonates with my sustainable gardening practices.
5. Nutrient-Rich Mulch and Composting
Chamomile's nutrient richness and substantial greenery make it a valuable green mulch and a beneficial component for compost piles, aiding in soil enrichment and enhancing compost quality.
6. Edible Flowers and Culinary Uses
The delightful, subtly sweet flavor of fresh chamomile flowers makes them a delightful addition to culinary creations, especially desserts like cakes and cookies, echoing my preference for incorporating edible flowers in various recipes.
7. Relaxation and Medicinal Benefits
Chamomile's well-known properties for promoting relaxation, aiding in sleep, and its efficacy in addressing stress, anxiety, and digestive issues resonate strongly with my experience in herbal remedies and aromatherapy.
8. Skin and Hair Care
Utilizing chamomile in homemade skincare products, soaps, lotions, and hair rinses for its soothing properties and potential hair-lightening effects aligns with its traditional use in natural beauty routines.
9. Safe Herb for Children
The safety and effectiveness of chamomile in children's herbal remedies, including its calming effects, potential relief for teething discomfort, and benefits for skin health, coincide with my advocacy for natural remedies suitable for children.
10. Procurement of Quality Chamomile
While growing chamomile at home is gratifying, recommending reputable sources like Mountain Rose Herbs for high-quality organic dried herbs echoes my emphasis on obtaining premium-grade herbal products for various purposes.
My expertise and passion for cultivating chamomile have stemmed from years of hands-on experience, corroborating the myriad benefits outlined in the article. Whether brewing it for a calming cup of tea, integrating it into garden practices, or incorporating it into diverse recipes and remedies, chamomile continues to be a cornerstone of my herbal endeavors.
