Pollinator plant

Camomile

Matricaria recutita

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Common names

64 names · 45 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Annual Chamomile[2][4]
  • Camomile
  • Chamomile[1]
+5 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (44)
Dutch
French
  • Camomille
  • Matricaire camomille[2][4]
  • Petite camomille[2][4]
Arabic
  • بابونج ألماني[4]
Asturian
  • manzanieḷḷa[4]
Belarusian
  • Рамонак аптэчны[4]
Bosnian
Bulgarian
  • Лечебна лайка[4]
Catalan
Central Kurdish
  • بەیبوون[4]
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 德国洋甘菊[4]
  • 母菊[4]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 德國洋甘菊[4]
  • 母菊[4]
Croatian
Czech
  • heřmánek pravý[4]
Danish
  • Vellugtende kamille[4]
Estonian
Finnish
  • Kamomillasaunio[4]
Galego
Georgian
  • სამკურნალო გვირილა[4]
German
Greek
  • Χαμομήλι[4]
Guarani
  • Manzanilla[4]
Hebrew
  • בבונג דו-גוני[4]
Hungarian
  • Orvosi székfű[4]
Italian
Japanese
  • カミツレ[4]
  • カモミール[4]
Korean
  • 저먼캐모마일[4]
  • 카밀레[4]
Latvian
  • Ārstniecības kumelīte[4]
Lithuanian
  • Vaistinė ramunė[4]
Norwegian
  • kamilleblom[4]
Pashto
  • مروری[4]
Polish
  • rumianek pospolity[4]
Portuguese
Romanian
Russian
  • Ромашка аптечная[4]
  • Ромашка лекарственная[4]
  • Ромашка ободранная[4]
Serbian
  • Kamilica[4]
  • Камилица[4]
Slovak
  • rumanček pravý[4]
Slovenian
  • prava kamilica[4]
Spanish
Swedish
Thai
  • คาโมไมล์เยอรมัน[4]
Turkish
  • Alman Papatyası[4]
  • mayıs papatyası[4]
Ukrainian
  • Ромашка лікарська[4]
Welsh
  • Amranwen bêr[4]
Zapoteco
  • guia-gueza[4]
Sources & name notes (5)

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

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

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

[1] Matricaria chamomilla — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Chamomile — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • German Chamomile — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • Sweet False Chamomile — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • Wild Chamomile — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(4); heading: Common Name(s):; Matricaria chamomilla.
[2] Matricaria chamomilla — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Echte Kamille — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • Annual Chamomile — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • false chamomile — results[0].names[48]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • German Chamomile — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • scented mayweed — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • Wild chamomile — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • Manzanilla — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • Matricaire camomille — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • Petite camomille — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • Camomilla comune — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • Echte kamille — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • Camomila — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
[3] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Matricaria chamomilla ↗

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.
[4] Matricaria chamomilla — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Echte Kamille — results[7].names[2]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • Annual Chamomile — results[7].names[13]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • false chamomile — results[7].names[48]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • German Chamomile — results[7].names[1]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • scented mayweed — results[7].names[6]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • Wild chamomile — results[7].names[8]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • Manzanilla — results[7].names[12]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • Matricaire camomille — results[7].names[9]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • Petite camomille — results[7].names[10]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • Camomilla comune — results[7].names[11]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • Echte kamille — results[7].names[7]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • Camomila — results[7].names[16]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • Ромашка аптечная — results[7].names[3]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • Ромашка лекарственная — results[7].names[4]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • Ромашка ободранная — results[7].names[5]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • Kamomill — results[7].names[14]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • בבונג דו-גוני — results[7].names[15]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • heřmánek pravý — results[7].names[17]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • rumianek pospolity — results[7].names[18]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • Orvosi székfű — results[7].names[19]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • Рамонак аптэчны — results[7].names[20]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • Kamomillasaunio — results[7].names[21]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • Teekummel — results[7].names[22]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • Kamilica — results[7].names[23]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • Camamilla — results[7].names[24]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • Macela — results[7].names[25]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • بەیبوون — results[7].names[26]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • Manzanilla — results[7].names[27]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • სამკურნალო გვირილა — results[7].names[28]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • 저먼캐모마일 — results[7].names[29]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • カモミール — results[7].names[30]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • مروری — results[7].names[31]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • kamilleblom — results[7].names[32]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • guia-gueza — results[7].names[33]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • Vaistinė ramunė — results[7].names[34]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • manzanieḷḷa — results[7].names[35]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • Vellugtende kamille — results[7].names[36]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • 德國洋甘菊 — results[7].names[37]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • 母菊 — results[7].names[38]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • 母菊 — results[7].names[39]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • 德国洋甘菊 — results[7].names[40]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • Χαμομήλι — results[7].names[41]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • mayıs papatyası — results[7].names[42]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • Mușețel — results[7].names[43]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • Ромашка лікарська — results[7].names[44]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • بابونج ألماني — results[7].names[45]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • prava kamilica — results[7].names[46]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • Ārstniecības kumelīte — results[7].names[47]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • 카밀레 — results[7].names[49]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • คาโมไมล์เยอรมัน — results[7].names[50]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • Камилица — results[7].names[51]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • Kamilica — results[7].names[52]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • Amranwen bêr — results[7].names[53]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • Kamilica — results[7].names[54]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • rumanček pravý — results[7].names[55]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • カミツレ — results[7].names[56]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • Лечебна лайка — results[7].names[57]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
  • Alman Papatyası — results[7].names[58]; taxon id 77965; Matricaria chamomilla.
[5] Royal Horticultural Society — common names ↗

Names retained from the referenced botanical profile or table.

Source records
  • scented mayweed — Page 3, column 1, row top 367 pt; common-name cell after Matricaria recutita.; Matricaria recutita.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Catalogue of Life treats Matricaria recutita as a synonym of Matricaria chamomilla.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family
Asteraceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [2]
Mature height
0.33–0.76 m

NC State Extension profile, published as Matricaria chamomilla; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [3]
Plant habit
Erect; Mounding

NC State Extension profile, published as Matricaria chamomilla; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life.

Sources [3]
Life cycle
Annual

NC State Extension profile, published as Matricaria chamomilla; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life.

Sources [3]
Growth rate
Rapid

NC State Extension profile, published as Matricaria chamomilla; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life.

Sources [3]
Foliage
Deciduous

NC State Extension profile, published as Matricaria chamomilla; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life.

Sources [3]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile, published as Matricaria chamomilla; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life.

Sources [3]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage

NC State Extension profile, published as Matricaria chamomilla; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life.

Sources [3]
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt)

NC State Extension profile, published as Matricaria chamomilla; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life.

Sources [3]
Flowering season
Autumn; Summer

NC State Extension profile, published as Matricaria chamomilla; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [3]
Pollinator guidance
RHS includes Matricaria recutita in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.

RHS planting guidance. Choose accessible flowers with pollen and nectar; reduced-resource and double-flowered forms may be unsuitable.

Sources [4]
Native range
Macaronesia, N. Africa, Temp. Eurasia to Indo-China.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [5]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Medium suitability
Nectar value Unknown
Pollen value Medium
Agroforestry database

Complete plant information

Open full plant profile

Structure

Vegetation layer
Herbaceous
Size
Small
Dimensions
0.50 m high × 0.30 m wide
Lifecycle
Annual

Site conditions

USDA hardiness
5-9
Moisture
Moist, Well-drained
Soil
Sandy, Loamy, Clay
pH
Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
Light
Sun

Uses

Edible parts
Seasoning, Tea
Functions
Dye, Essential oil, Repellent, Fragrant
Edibility
1 out of 5
Medicinal value
5 out of 5

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.

Sources and references

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

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Matricaria recutita — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 2511111; ID 72V38; rank species; status synonym

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Matricaria chamomilla — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 2511126; ID 72V3R; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 2511126; ID 72V3R; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  3. NC State Extension Matricaria chamomilla — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureFlowering season
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time

    Source checked on .

  4. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Wildflowers

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 3, column 1, entry Matricaria recutita (top 367 pt)

    Source checked on .

  5. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Matricaria chamomilla — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 830180, 1423985; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 1481635, 1481636, 1481639, 1481640, 1481641, 1481642, 1481643, 1481644, 1481645, 1481646, 1481648, 1481649, 1481651, 1481652, 1481653, 1481654, 1481655, 1481656, 1481657, 1481658, 1481659, 1481660, 1481661, 1481662, 1481663, 1481664, 1481666, 1481667, 1481668, 1481670, 1481671, 1481672, 1481673, 1481674, 1481675, 1481677, 1481678, 1481681, 1481682, 1481683, 1481684, 1481685, 1481686, 1481687, 1481690, 1481691, 1481692, 1481693, 1481694, 1481695, 1481696, 1481697, 1481698, 1481699, 1481700, 1481701, 1481702, 1481703, 1481704, 1481706, 1481707, 1481708, 1481709, 1481710, 1481711, 1481712, 1481713, 1481714, 1481715, 1481716

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.