🌼 When to Plant Chamomile

🌿 Herb
Cool Season

Self-seeds freely; German chamomile is annual, Roman is perennial (zones 4+)

📅 Planting Calendar by USDA Zone

Select your zone to highlight your exact planting dates. Dates are calculated from each zone's average frost dates.

Find my zone
Zone Last Frost Start Indoors Transplant Direct Sow
Zone 2A May 30 Apr 18 May 16 May 16
Zone 3B May 15 Apr 3 May 1 May 1
Zone 4A May 8 Mar 27 Apr 24 Apr 24
Zone 4B May 1 Mar 20 Apr 17 Apr 17
Zone 5A Apr 25 Mar 14 Apr 11 Apr 11
Zone 5B Apr 18 Mar 7 Apr 4 Apr 4
Zone 6A Apr 21 Mar 10 Apr 7 Apr 7
Zone 6B Apr 10 Feb 27 Mar 27 Mar 27
Zone 7A Apr 5 Feb 22 Mar 22 Mar 22
Zone 7B Mar 28 Feb 14 Mar 14 Mar 14
Zone 8A Mar 20 Feb 6 Mar 6 Mar 6
Zone 8B Mar 12 Jan 29 Feb 26 Feb 26
Zone 9A Feb 28 Jan 17 Feb 14 Feb 14
Zone 9B Feb 15 Jan 4 Feb 1 Feb 1
Zone 10A Feb 1 Dec 21 Jan 18 Jan 18
Zone 10B Jan 15 Dec 4 Jan 1 Jan 1
Zone 11A Jan 1 Nov 20 Dec 18 Dec 18

Chamomile is a gentle herb famous for calming tea. German chamomile is annual; Roman is perennial.

Top Growing Tips

  • German chamomile (annual) is easier to grow than Roman (perennial)
  • Direct sow on soil surface — seeds need light to germinate
  • Self-seeds readily and will come back year after year
  • Harvest flowers when petals reflex (fold back) from center
  • Dry flowers at low heat or in a dehydrator for tea

Companion Planting

Good companions: brassicas, onions, cucumbers — called ‘plant doctor’ for helping sick plants

Avoid planting near: none in particular

Harvest Timeline

Harvest flowers individually or cut whole stems when most blooms are open