The common garden daisy and the popular herbal chamomile are frequently mistaken for one another due to their highly similar appearance. Both are well-known flowering plants with a classic white-petaled, yellow-centered look. While they look alike and share a deep botanical history, they are distinct plants with unique properties.
Distinct Plants in the Same Family
Daisies and chamomile are not the same plant, but their similar appearance stems from shared botanical ancestry. Both belong to the vast Asteraceae family, often called the daisy or aster family, making them distant relatives. This large family includes over 30,000 species, such as sunflowers, marigolds, and dandelions, all sharing the characteristic of a composite flower head made of many tiny florets.
The common daisy, frequently seen in lawns and fields, is scientifically identified as Bellis perennis and belongs to the genus Bellis. Conversely, the two most common types of chamomile used commercially are German Chamomile (Matricaria recutita or Chamomilla recutita) and Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile).
German Chamomile is an annual plant, while Roman Chamomile is a perennial. Both chamomile species produce the familiar daisy-like flower head, which is the source of confusion. Despite their family tie, these specific scientific names and genera establish them as separate entities from the perennial common daisy.
Physical Differences and Traditional Uses
Differentiating between a daisy and a chamomile plant involves observing key physical features beyond the superficial flower color. The common daisy (Bellis perennis) is a low-growing plant, reaching only a few inches in height. It has spoon-shaped leaves that form a rosette close to the ground, and its flowering stem is usually leafless.
Chamomile plants are generally taller, with German Chamomile growing up to two feet and Roman Chamomile reaching about a foot in height. Their stems have fine, feathery, or spindly leaves, which is a noticeable difference from the common daisy. A definitive way to tell German Chamomile apart is to slice the flower head in half; it will reveal a distinct hollow receptacle, while the common daisy’s flower base is solid.
The most recognized difference is the aroma and resulting human application. Chamomile flowers are famous for their strong, sweet scent, often described as apple-like, which is noticeable when the flowers are crushed. This scent is linked to its primary traditional use: the dried flower heads are brewed into a popular herbal tea, prized for its mild tranquilizing and soothing properties.
The common daisy has a milder, more delicate fragrance. While historically used in traditional herbalism, it is primarily valued as an ornamental plant. Daisy leaves and roots were sometimes used as an astringent or for external applications to soothe aches, a very different focus from chamomile’s internal use for relaxation.