Practical
Plants

Anthemis tinctoria

Yellow Camomile

a perennial evergreen member of the Anthemis genus in the family Compositae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Height
0.8 m
Spread
0.8 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Bees, Lepidoptera, Flies, Beetles, Self
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Lepidoptera, Flies, Beetles, Self

Uses

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The whole plant is antispasmodic, diaphoretic, emetic, emmenagogue and vesicant[11]. It is used internally as a tea, which can be made either from the flowers or the whole plant[11]. Applied externally, it is used as a poultice on piles and can also be applied to the bath water[11].The leaves are rubbed onto insect stings[8].

Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Emmenagogue
Product or use
Vesicant

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A distinctive yellow dye is obtained from the flowers[3][5][12][13][14][4][10].

Product or use
Dye

Environment

Range
Europe - Mediterranean. A casual in Britain[5].
Habitat
Sunny slopes, rocks, railway tracks and walls, usually on limestone[14].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
high wind, maritime exposure
Wind
Yes
Maritime
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - surface sow March/April in a greenhouse[2]. Do not allow the soil to dry out. Light aids germination. The seed usually germinates in 2 weeks at 20°c[2]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer. Cuttings of soft wood early summer in a frame. Very easy[K]. Division in spring or autumn[7].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a well-drained sweet soil and a sunny position[1]. Grows well on chalk[6]. Plants succeed in maritime gardens[9]. Hardy to about -15°c[7]. Another report says that it is hardy to about -25°c[6]. This species has formerly been cultivated as a dye plant[13], the var. 'Kelawayi' is said to be the best form[4]. Plants are apt to over-flower and exhaust themselves. It is best to remove the flowering stems as soon as they stop flowering in order to stimulate the production of basal shoots for the following year[9].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. 1988-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  3. Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-87857-262-7

    ↩

  4. Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden.

    ↩1↩2

  5. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  6. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

    ↩1↩2

  7. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  8. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩

  9. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩1↩2

  10. Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30725-8

    ↩

  11. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  12. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  13. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

  14. Polunin. O. and Huxley. A. Flowers of the Mediterranean. Hogarth Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-7012-0784-1

    ↩1↩2

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