About Matricaria chamomilla L.
Matricaria chamomilla L., commonly called German chamomile and blue chamomile, is a species in the Asteraceae family, native to southern and eastern Europe, and can now be found growing on all continents.
This plant has a branched, erect, smooth stem, and reaches a height of 15–60 cm (6–24 in). Its long, narrow leaves are either bipinnate or tripinnate. Its flowers form in paniculate capitula (flower heads): white ray florets have a ligule, while the inner disc florets are yellow. The receptacle is hollow, swollen, and lacks scales; this feature distinguishes Matricaria chamomilla from corn chamomile (Anthemis arvensis), which has a scaly receptacle. Flowers bloom from early to midsummer, are fragrant, and gain their characteristic scent from the species' essential oil. The oil is blue due to the presence of chamazulene, which gives the plant its common name blue chamomile. The fruit of Matricaria chamomilla is a yellowish-brown achene.
For health uses, there is limited reliable evidence confirming this chamomile is effective for medicinal purposes. It may cause mild side effects or drug interactions, so it should be used with caution, especially for people with allergies, estrogen-sensitive conditions, and during pregnancy. As a relative of ragweed, it can trigger allergy symptoms and cross-react with ragweed pollen in people who have ragweed allergies. Touching the plant may cause contact dermatitis, and consuming chamomile tea carries potential for drug interactions with anticoagulants.
In cultivation, this plant does not require special soil, though it grows best in well-balanced soils with thick topsoil. It can be planted as an annual crop in either autumn or spring, and can also be treated as a perennial because it readily self-seeds. Aphids are the major insect pest for commercial chamomile production. The most significant diseases affecting this crop in Europe are downy mildew, powdery mildew, and rust. Individual chamomile plants often flower 2 to 3 times per year, so cultivation practices accommodate multiple annual harvests. The full flowering period of the crop lasts 50–65 days, and a single flower takes 20–25 days to fully develop.
Common uses of this plant include making tea, and German chamomile is used in herbal medicine.
