German Chamomile

1. Description
2. Origin
3. Uses
4. Culture
5. Sources
6. Thanks to...
   

Origin

Mediterranean: German chamomile is widely used for herbal teas, in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, and in traditional medicine. An essential oil (0.3-1.3% fresh weight) can be extracted from the flower heads and contains chamazulene, (-)-"alpha-bisabolol, farnesene, matricin, bisbolol oxides, apigenin, flavonoid, glycosides, coumarins, herniarin, umbelliferone, polysaccharides. There has been extensive plant breeding and cultivars with high yields and specific essential oil qualities have been developed. German Chamomile has a less pronounced aroma but a less bitter taste then Roman Chamomile.

| Top of Page |

Uses of German Chamomile and Claims

• Culinary: herbal teas
• Medicinal: claimed to be anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, relaxant, carminative, antiallergenic
• Industrial: herbal baths, hair products, facials

| Top of Page |

Culture

• Propagation: Grown from seeds which can be sown in spring or fall. Although it is drought tolerant it needs plenty of water to germinate and for development of young plants.
• Soil Type: German chamomile will tolerate many soils, but prefers a sandy, well-drained soil with a pH of 7.0-7.5 and lots of sun.
• Cultivation: Space plants 15-30 cm apart. Chamomile does not require large amounts of fertilizer but depending on soil tests, small amounts of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium should be applied before planting.
• Harvest: Flower heads are harvested in the summer while in full bloom. Flowers can be used fresh, frozen or dried. Volatile oils are lost rapidly upon drying. Chamomile can yield 300 to 500 pounds of dried flowers per acre.

| Top of Page |

Sources

• Bown, D. 1995. Encyclopedia of Herbs and Their Uses. RD Press.
• Chevallier, A. 1996. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Reader’s Digest Association.
• Halva, S, L.E.Craker. 1996 Manual for Northern Herb Growers. HSMP Press
• Kowalchik, C. and W. H. Hylton Eds. 1998. Rodale’s illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs. Rodale Press.
• Sturdivant, L, T.Blakely. 1999. Medicinal Herbs in the Garden, Field & Marketplace. San Juan Naturals.

Thanks to

This demonstration garden was a result of the efforts of Dr. Alan McKeown, Vegetable Scientist, University of Guelph and was made possible with grants from the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association and the Tobacco Diversification Program.

| Top of Page |