Chamomile is a popular herb known for its soothing, daisy-like flowers. Whether this plant returns to your garden every year depends entirely on which of the two primary varieties you are cultivating. Both German and Roman chamomile produce similar flowers, but their survival strategies are biologically distinct. One variety is a true perennial, regrowing from established root systems, while the other relies on dropping seeds to reappear the following spring.
The Annual Chamomile (German)
The variety most commonly used for herbal tea, German Chamomile (Matricaria recutita), is botanically an annual plant. An annual completes its entire life cycle—from germination to seed production—within a single growing season before the entire plant dies. This upright variety typically grows to a height of about 12 to 24 inches, providing abundant flowers prized for their high essential oil content.
Its reputation for “coming back” is due to its prolific habit of self-seeding, which effectively mimics a perennial return. As the growing season ends, spent flowers dry out and drop seeds onto the soil surface. These seeds require a period of cold stratification over the winter, followed by the warmth of spring, to germinate and produce new plants.
Gardeners can encourage this reliable return by leaving some of the last flowers on the stems to fully mature and brown rather than harvesting all of them. Lightly disturbing the soil in the fall or early spring can also help ensure good seed-to-soil contact, promoting higher germination rates. This process ensures a continuous, technically new, crop without the need for annual replanting.
The Perennial Chamomile (Roman)
Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile), often referred to as English Chamomile, is a true perennial that returns year after year from its established root system. This variety is much lower-growing than its German counterpart, forming a dense, creeping mat that rarely exceeds 12 inches in height. It spreads horizontally via underground runners or rhizomes, making it an excellent choice for a fragrant ground cover or an alternative lawn.
The root crown and rhizomes survive the winter months, even if the leafy top growth dies back. Roman Chamomile is reliably hardy in USDA zones 4 through 9, surviving freezing temperatures by drawing nutrients back into its roots. While its flowers can be used for tea, they are often slightly more bitter than the German variety, and the plant is primarily valued for its durability and aromatic foliage. In colder regions, a layer of protective mulch applied around the base in late fall can help shield the shallow root system from extreme cold and freeze-thaw cycles.
Cultivation Tips for Reliable Return
Both varieties prefer full sun (at least six hours daily) and require well-draining soil to prevent root rot. Chamomile does not thrive in overly rich or heavily fertilized soil, preferring a lean, sandy loam with a slightly acidic to neutral pH range of 5.6 to 7.5.
German Chamomile (Self-Seeding)
For the self-seeding German Chamomile, the key is balancing harvest with reproduction. To maximize tea production, deadhead the flowers regularly to encourage continuous blooming throughout the summer. To ensure plants return the following spring, stop harvesting flowers about four to six weeks before the first expected frost. This allows the final flush of blooms to fully dry, dropping mature seeds that establish the next generation.
Roman Chamomile (Perennial Vigor)
Regular pruning or clipping helps maintain a dense mat, especially if Roman Chamomile is used as a ground cover. Every three to four years, the established clumps should be divided in either the early spring or fall to rejuvenate the plant and prevent the center from becoming woody and unproductive. Division involves digging up the clump and separating the younger, outer sections of the root mass to replant.