Chamomile, with its delicate, daisy-like flowers, is a versatile herb valued for its calming properties and as an attractive garden plant. Successful cultivation in Texas requires understanding the state’s diverse climates and tailoring planting times. This guide outlines optimal periods for planting chamomile across Texas’s varied regions.
Understanding Texas Climates for Chamomile
Texas’s vast geographical area creates diverse climatic conditions, directly influencing gardening. The state spans USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 6b to 10b, meaning what thrives in one region may struggle in another. Intense summer heat and varying winter temperatures dictate when chamomile, a cool-season plant, can be successfully established.
Optimal Chamomile Planting Times by Texas Region
Due to significant climate variations, planting chamomile in Texas requires a regional approach. Both German (annual) and Roman (perennial) chamomile prefer cooler conditions, so timing ensures establishment before extreme temperatures.
North Texas
In North Texas (USDA Zones 6b-8a), including Dallas-Fort Worth and the Panhandle, spring planting is recommended from late March through April, after the last frost. Fall planting is an alternative, from late August to September, allowing establishment before the first hard freeze. Chamomile tolerates light frost but not heavy freezes.
Central Texas
Central Texas (Zones 8a-8b), including Austin and San Antonio, allows earlier spring planting from late February to March. Fall planting extends into September and October, providing ample time before winter. German chamomile grows as a cool-season annual here, from fall through mid-spring.
South Texas
In South Texas (Zones 9a-10b), including Houston and the Rio Grande Valley, intense summer heat makes spring planting less viable. The most successful planting window is fall and early winter, from October to December. This allows plants to flourish during the milder cool season, with flowering ending when extreme heat arrives.
West Texas
West Texas (Zones 6b-8a), with arid conditions and wide temperature swings, allows spring planting after the last frost, typically in April. Early fall planting is also successful during cooler periods. Providing afternoon shade in hotter areas helps mitigate intense sun and heat.
Key Factors for Chamomile Planting Success
Soil temperature is important for seed germination and root development. Chamomile seeds germinate best when soil temperatures are between 65°F and 85°F, though some varieties sprout as low as 45°F to 55°F.
Planting around local frost dates is also important. Chamomile should be planted after the last spring frost danger to protect young seedlings. For fall planting, ensure enough time for establishment before the first hard freeze, as chamomile may not survive severe freezing.
Chamomile prefers cooler temperatures, ideally thriving between 60°F and 70°F. Intense Texas summer heat, especially above 100°F, can cause bolting, reduced flowering, or plant decline. While chamomile prefers full sun for optimal flowering, partial shade during the hottest parts of the day helps prevent heat stress and maintains vigor.
Chamomile Planting and Initial Care Tips
German chamomile is commonly grown from seed, which is tiny and requires light for germination. Surface-sow seeds or cover them very lightly, then gently press into the soil for good contact.
Chamomile thrives in well-drained soil with light, well-composted organic matter. The ideal soil pH ranges from 5.6 to 7.5. When planting, thin seedlings to 2 to 4 inches apart, or allow mature plants 8 to 12 inches of growing room.
Consistent moisture is important during germination and seedling stages. After planting, water immediately, then provide about one inch per week until plants are well-established. Mature chamomile is relatively drought-tolerant but benefits from consistent watering during dry spells, allowing the top inch of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root issues.