Chamomile Seeds

Chamomile Seeds for Planting: German and Roman Chamomile

Chamomile is a cottage-garden classic, with small daisy-like flowers, feathery foliage, and a sweet, apple-like scent that fills the air on a warm day. It's easy to grow, forgiving of poor soil, and wonderful for pollinators, and the dried blossoms make a mild, fragrant herbal tea. Our collection of chamomile seeds includes both German and Roman chamomile, so you can choose between a quick-growing annual and a low, spreading perennial. Growing chamomile from seed is simple and inexpensive, and a small patch can supply a season's worth of flowers.

Chamomile Flower Seeds for Sale: German vs. Roman Chamomile

When you browse chamomile flower seeds for sale, the two main types behave quite differently. German chamomile is a fast-growing annual that reaches about two feet tall, covers itself with white-petaled, yellow-centered blooms, and drops seed so it often returns on its own the following year. It's the type most gardeners grow for tea. Roman chamomile is a low, creeping perennial that stays under a foot tall, forms a soft mat of fragrant foliage, and works as a groundcover, a path edging, or a container filler. Flowers are smaller and appear in less abundance than on German chamomile, but the plants last for years.

Both types prefer sunny spots and bloom through the summer, and they pair well with lavender, calendula, and other herbs. The airy blooms also attract bees, hoverflies, and other helpful insects, making chamomile a useful companion in vegetable beds and borders.

Planting Chamomile Seeds: Light, Cool Soil, and Patience

Chamomile seeds are very small and need light to sprout, so planting chamomile seeds is simple: scatter them across the surface of loose, moist soil and press them in gently without covering them. Sow in early spring as soon as the soil can be worked, or start seeds indoors about four to six weeks before your last frost and transplant seedlings once the weather settles. Keep the soil lightly moist, and expect sprouts in one to two weeks. Thin plants to about six to eight inches apart, a little wider for Roman chamomile. Chamomile does best in full sun and well-drained soil, and it doesn't need rich ground or much fertilizer. The Seedtime planting calendar works out your sowing dates from your frost dates, and the layout planner helps you place it where it can spread and self-seed without crowding neighbors.

Buy Chamomile Plant Seeds with One Flat Shipping Rate

When you order chamomile plant seeds here, you can combine packets from different suppliers in one order and pay one flat shipping rate rather than a separate shipping charge for each supplier. Seedtime members also get discounts on seed packets, so if you're planning a full herb or tea garden, compare Seedtime's plans to see what membership includes.