Chamomile is a fragrant herb cultivated for its calming, daisy-like flowers, which are commonly used to brew herbal tea. Growing new chamomile plants is straightforward, achieved through two methods: sowing seeds or dividing mature plants. The appropriate propagation technique depends entirely on the specific type of chamomile being grown. This guide provides practical instruction on establishing new chamomile plants for a successful harvest or fragrant groundcover.
Selecting the Right Chamomile Type
The choice of propagation method is dictated by the specific botanical variety you intend to grow. German Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) is an annual variety, completing its life cycle in a single season, and is primarily propagated using seeds. This type produces the high yield of sweet, apple-scented flowers preferred for tea. Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) is a perennial that lives for multiple years. It is most effectively multiplied through vegetative methods like division or cuttings, maintaining a low-growing, creeping habit often used as a fragrant groundcover.
Propagation by Seed
German Chamomile seeds can be started indoors approximately six to eight weeks before the last expected frost date to get a head start on the growing season. The tiny seeds require light for successful germination, so they must not be covered with soil. Prepare a seed-starting tray with well-draining, pre-moistened mix and scatter the minute seeds sparsely across the surface.
After sowing, gently press the seeds onto the soil surface to ensure good contact, avoiding burial. Place the trays in a bright location or under grow lights, maintaining a consistent temperature between 65°F and 85°F for optimal germination. Use a spray bottle or bottom-watering technique to keep the top layer of the soil consistently moist. The seeds should begin to sprout within seven to fourteen days.
Propagation by Division or Cuttings
Roman Chamomile, a perennial, is most reliably propagated by separating a portion of an existing, healthy plant. Division is best performed in the early spring as new growth begins or in the early fall. To divide, carefully lift a mature clump from the soil using a garden fork, minimizing disturbance to the root ball. Separate the plant into smaller sections, ensuring each new piece retains a healthy amount of both roots and stems.
Alternatively, new Roman Chamomile plants can be started from stem cuttings during the active growing season, typically spring to early summer. Select a three to four-inch section from a non-flowering, healthy stem tip. Strip the leaves from the bottom two inches of the cutting, optionally dipping the cut end into a rooting hormone powder to encourage root development. Plant the prepared cuttings into a small pot filled with a sterile, well-draining medium, such as perlite and peat moss. Placing the pot in a warm, bright area out of direct sun and covering it with plastic to maintain humidity will promote rooting within four to six weeks.
Transplanting and Early Care
Before moving seedlings or rooted cuttings outdoors, hardening off is necessary to acclimate them to sun and wind. This involves gradually exposing the young plants to outdoor conditions over one to two weeks. Once the danger of frost has passed, the seedlings or divisions are ready to be transplanted into a sunny location that receives at least six hours of light daily.
German Chamomile plants should be spaced 12 inches apart to allow for their upright growth habit. Roman Chamomile can be spaced 8 inches apart for general growth, or 2 to 4 inches apart to create a dense groundcover or chamomile lawn. Plant the root ball at the same depth it was growing in its original container, then water thoroughly to help the roots settle. While established chamomile is drought-tolerant, young transplants require consistently moist soil until new growth is evident.