Last updated on October 23rd, 2023 at 09:03 pm
Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) is one of the oldest and most widely used medicinal plants. The annual, herbaceous plant thrives almost everywhere and is found both in the Mediterranean climate of North Africa and in the North European Plain; this widespread plant can even be found in Australia. Of course, chamomile can also be grown in the home garden.
Sunny and warm
The soil can be poor and stony, chamomile still thrives there – provided it is in a sunny, warm and sheltered place. In nature you can find it on roadsides, along field margins, in fields, meadows and fallow land, on rubble heaps, etc. In the garden, planting as a bed border is optimal, especially in mixed culture with cabbage vegetables, potatoes, onions and leeks, as well as radishes and nasturtiums.
The optimal substrate
Chamomile is not too demanding on the soil, the substrate should only be loose and permeable and calcareous. The plant thrives best in soil with a slightly acidic to alkaline pH value in the range between 6.5 and 8.
Tips & Tricks
Near chamomile, you should only put plants that also like or at least tolerate a calcareous soil.