Chamomile
Matricaria chamomilla
Also known as: German chamomile, Wild chamomile, Scented mayweed, Kamille (German)
Quick facts
- Category
- herbs soft
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Days to harvest
- 60 to 90 days
- Harvest type
- continuous production over weeks or months
- Spacing
- 20 cm between plants
Environment
- Temperature
- 10–26°C
- pH
- 5.5 to 7.5
- EC (hydroponic)
- 0.8 to 1.4 mS/cm
- Daily light
- 15 to 25 mol/m²/day
Climate and zones
- USDA zones
- 2 to 9 (winter low around -46°C or warmer)
- Frost tolerance
- frost hardy (handles regular frost)
- Season
- cool (spring and fall crops)
Viable growing environments:
- outdoor year-round (in zone)
- outdoor in growing season (annual)
- unheated greenhouse / hoop house
- indoor (heated home)
- indoor hydroponics under grow lights
USDA zone bounds reflect outdoor year-round survival. Anywhere outside the bounded zone range, this crop still grows as an annual in the warm months (outdoor_seasonal), under cover (greenhouse), or indoors under lights.
Growing systems
Chamomile works in:
- drip / Dutch buckets
- media bed (ebb and flow)
- wicking bed
- soil bed
Growing media
The substrate the roots sit in. Choice depends on the system (clay pebbles don't fit NFT channels; rockwool isn't used in media beds) and the crop (chamomile works in the media listed below).
| Medium | pH effect | Water retention | Bacterial surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coco coir (Coconut coir) | slightly acidic | high | moderate |
| Perlite (Expanded volcanic glass) | neutral / inert | very low | low |
| Soil-based mix (Potting soil) | varies by source | high | high |
Bacterial surface area matters for aquaponics: clay pebbles, lava rock, and pumice double as biofilter substrate. Low-surface media (rockwool, perlite, pea gravel) work in hydroponics but need a separate biofilter in aquaponics.
Nutrient demand by stage
NPK ratios are relative weights at each growth stage; the nutrient mix calculator scales them to absolute grams or ml. EC targets shift through the plant's life: seedlings need a much lighter solution than fruiting adults.
| Stage | N | P | K | EC target (mS/cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| seedling | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.6 |
| vegetative | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Aquaponics suitability
Compatible with typical aquaponics nutrient profiles. Fish waste provides enough nitrogen for healthy growth; supplemental potassium, calcium, and iron may still be needed depending on fish stocking density.
Care notes
A straightforward hydroponic herb grown primarily for the dried flower heads used in tea. EC 1.0-1.8 mS/cm. pH 5.5-7.5 (chamomile is adaptable). Temperature: 15–25°C (cool to moderate; flowers best in cool weather). Moderate light (DLI 14-20 mol/m2/day). German chamomile (the annual type) is the better choice for hydroponic production. From seed to first flowers: 6-8 weeks. The plant blooms for 4-6 weeks; harvest individual flower heads when the white petals are fully open and beginning to reflex backward (bend downward from the center). Dry flower heads in a single layer in a dehydrator at 35–40°C to preserve the volatile oils, or spread on screens in a warm, dry, well-ventilated room. Once dried, store in sealed jars out of direct light. Each plant produces dozens of flowers, and a small group of 10-15 plants provides enough dried chamomile for a household's tea consumption. The essential oil (primarily bisabolol and chamazulene) is extracted by steam distillation for aromatherapy and cosmetic use but requires large quantities of flowers. For home growers, the dried-flower tea is the practical product.
Verified against: rhs-uk, u-of-minnesota-extension. Last reviewed 2026-05-15.