Practical
Plants

Chamaemelum nobile

Camomile

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

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Taxonomy and growth

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

Uses

Edible uses

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

Young sprigs are used as a seasoning and a flavouring in herb beers[2][8]. The fresh or dried flowers are used to make herb teas[16][20][8]. This has a strong aromatic odour and a bitter flavour, especially the single-flowered form[21]. The whole herb is used for making herbal beers[21].

Product or use
Condiment
Product or use
Tea

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.

Camomile is a common herb with a long history of safe and effective medicinal use - it is widely used as a household herbal remedy. It is particularly useful as a remedy for various problems of the digestive system, as a sedative and a nervine, it is especially suited for young children[21][12][16]. A tea is made from the flowers and this should be prepared in a closed vessel to prevent loss of the essential oils[21]. The flowers are anodyne, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, nervine, stomachic, tonic, vasodilator[21][1][16][20][4][14]. The single-flowered form is the most potent medicinally, though it can in large doses damage the lining of the stomach and bowels[21]. For this reason, the double-flowered form is usually preferred since this contains less of the alkaloid that causes the problem[21]. The flowers are gathered in the summer when they are fully open and are distilled for their oil or dried for later use[18]. They should not be stored for longer than 12 months[18]. The whole herb is used to make a lotion for external application in the treatment of toothache, earache, neuralgia etc[21]. The essential oil is used in aromatherapy. Its keyword is 'Soothing'[17].

Product or use
Anodyne
Product or use
Antiinflammatory
Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Aromatherapy
Product or use
Nervine
Product or use
Stomachic
Product or use
Tonic
Product or use
Vasodilator

Material uses

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

An infusion of the flowers is used as a hair shampoo, especially for fair hair[1][12][5]. It is also used as a liquid feed and general plant tonic[1], effective against a number of plant diseases[7][12][14]. It has fungicidal properties and its use is said to prevent damping off in seedlings[18]. The flowers are an ingredient of 'QR' herbal compost activator[19]. This is a dried and powdered mixture of several herbs that can be added to a compost heap in order to speed up bacterial activity and thus shorten the time needed to make the compost[K]. The whole plant was formerly used as a strewing herb[21][5]. The whole plant is insect repellent both when growing and when dried[1][12]. An essential oil from the whole plant is used as a flavouring and in perfumery[22]. Yellow to gold dyes are obtained from the flowers[5]. The plant makes a very good ground cover[11] and can also be used as an edging plant[13]. It does tend to become bare in patches[15].

Product or use
Compost
Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Essential
Product or use
Fungicide
Product or use
Hair care
Product or use
Liquid feed
Product or use
Repellent
Product or use
Strewing

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Soil surface

Ground cover

Environment

Range
Western Europe, including Britain, from Belgium south to N. Africa and the Azores.
Habitat
Sandy commons, pastures and grassy roadsides[6].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 4+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
drought
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

Propagation

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

Seed - sow March in a cold frame. Only just cover the seed and do not let the compost dry out. 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. Division in spring or autumn. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer or following spring. Basal cuttings in spring. Harvest the shoots when they are about 5cm long with plenty of underground stem. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer.

Cultivation

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

Tolerates most well-drained soils, preferring a dry sandy soil and a sunny position[21][20][13]. Tolerates partial shade[3]. Established plants are drought tolerant[10]. Can be grown in grass[23]. Tolerates a pH in the range 6.8 to 8. Plants are hardy to at least -15°c[13]. They often deteriorate in very wet or cold winters, but usually recover quickly in the spring and early summer[18]. Chamomile is commonly grown in the domestic herb garden, it is also cultivated commercially for its flowers which are used in herb teas and medicinally. The double-flowered form is highly regarded for its medicinal virtues[4]. Plants can be invasive when growing in good conditions[9], though they are easy to control[K]. There is some confusion between this plant (which is a perennial) and the annual chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) as to which is the genuine medicinal chamomile. Some reports say that this plant is the most effective herbally[21], whilst others says that Matricaria is more potent[24]. Both plants seem to have very similar properties and either can probably be used quite successfully. Camomile is a very good companion plant, promoting the health of plants it is growing close to, it is especially good for growing near cabbages, onions and, in small quantities, wheat[21][1][12][23][14][18]. The cultivar 'Treneague' is a low-growing non-flowering form that makes an excellent ground cover[11]. Fairly tolerant of being walked on, it is sometimes used instead of grass for making a lawn though it is more difficult to maintain and can become weed infested, especially in its early stages[13]. It also tends to become bare in places[15]. The whole plant has a pungent aroma, this being especially noticeable on hot days or when the plant is bruised.

References

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  2. Bryan. J. and Castle. C. Edible Ornamental Garden. Pitman Publishing 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-273-00098-5

    ↩

  3. Simons. New Vegetable Growers Handbook. Penguin 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-050-0

    ↩

  4. Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.

    ↩1↩2

  5. Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-02-544950-8

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩

  7. Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins 1979-00-00

    ↩

  8. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2

  9. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩

  10. Chatto. B. The Dry Garden. Dent 1982-00-00 ISBN 0460045512

    ↩

  11. Royal Horticultural Society. Ground Cover Plants. Cassells. 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-304-31089-1

    ↩1↩2

  12. Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978-00-00 ISBN 0-88266-064-0

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  14. Allardice.P. A - Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers Ltd. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-304-34324-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

  15. Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1

    ↩1↩2

  16. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

  17. Westwood. C. Aromatherapy - A guide for home use. Amberwood Publishing Ltd 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-9517723-0-9

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  18. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  19. Bruce. M. E. Commonsense Compost Making. Faber 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-571-09990-4

    ↩

  20. Thompson. B. The Gardener's Assistant. Blackie and Son. 1878-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10↩11↩12

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

    ↩

  23. Hatfield. A. W. How to Enjoy your Weeds. Frederick Muller Ltd 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-584-10141-4

    ↩1↩2

  24. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

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