Plant Details

Matricaria recutita

Camomile

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Matricaria recutita.

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Common names

6 names · 5 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Camomile
  • Scented Mayweed[1]
Other languages (4)
Dutch
  • Kamille
French
  • Camomille
German
  • Echte Kamille[1]
Spanish
  • Manzanita comun[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Matricaria chamomilla L. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Echte Kamille (DE); Scented Mayweed (EN); Manzanita comun (ES) — VernacularName.tsv, line 143587; taxon 72V3R.

General information

Scientific name: Matricaria recutita
Accepted name (Kew): Matricaria chamomilla View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited taxonomic treatment. Botanical references may use alternative names.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Asteraceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Matricaria (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Camomile

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.50 m
Spread: 0.30 m
Growth rate: None
Foliage: None

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 5-9
Soil moisture:
Moist, Well-drained
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Condiment, Tea
Edibility rating:
(1)
Medicinal rating:
(5)
Functions:
Dye, Essential oil, Repellent, Fragrant

Description

The young branches of this plant are used to flavor dishes, while the dried flowers are used to make herbal tea. The flowers have an aromatic scent but have a very bitter taste.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 15/05
Harvest ends: 15/07

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: WCVP version 16, wcvp_names.csv: Matricaria recutita L., name ID 2906537, row 830180; Matricaria chamomilla L., name ID 2906535, row 1423985
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 556618; name ID 3133865; Matricaria L.. Family column.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Matricaria recutita

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 2511111, ID 72V38: Matricaria recutita L. (synonym). Accepted target: Matricaria chamomilla L., ID 72V3R, line 2511126.

    Source checked on .