Roman Chamomile | Chamaemelum nobile

Roman Chamomile is a low-growing, mat-forming perennial herb that brings timeless charm and genuine utility to the herbal garden, food forest understory, or cottage herb bed. The cheerful white-and-yellow daisy-like blooms fill the air with the unmistakable sweet, apple-like fragrance that has made chamomile one of the most beloved herbs in the world for thousands of years. Harvest the flowers for calming teas, herbal infusions, and home apothecary preparations — or simply let it carpet a sunny path where foot traffic releases its intoxicating scent with every step. Roman Chamomile offers reliable perennial returns where its annual cousin must be replanted each season.

Latin Name: Chamaemelum nobile

Site and Soil: Full sun – part shade, well-drained to moderately moist soil

Pollination Requirements: Self-fertile; highly attractive to beneficial insects and pollinators

Size at Maturity: 6–12" h x 12–18" w; spreads by runners to form a low ground cover Taste: Flowers sweet, apple-like, and mildly bitter; classic for chamomile tea, herbal infusions, and culinary use

Pests & Diseases: Generally trouble-free

USDA Zone: 4–9