Chamomile Charm: Soothing Beauty in Your Garden

There's something truly special about a garden that not only pleases the eye but also soothes the soul. And when it comes to bringing a sense of calm and a touch of delicate beauty, few plants do it as well as chamomile. With its dainty daisy-like flowers and a fragrance that instantly brings to mind comforting herbal teas, chamomile is a treasure for any gardener. It's much more than just a pretty face; this versatile herb offers a bounty of benefits, both for you and for the wider garden ecosystem.

Imagine stepping into your garden after a long day, being greeted by the sweet, apple-like scent of chamomile wafting on the breeze. Plucking a handful of fresh blossoms to brew into a relaxing evening tea is a simple luxury that's hard to beat. Whether you're a seasoned green thumb or just starting your gardening journey, chamomile is an incredibly rewarding plant to grow. It's surprisingly easy to care for and incredibly generous with its soothing gifts. Let's explore why this charming herb deserves a special spot in your garden and how you can help it flourish!

What Makes Chamomile So Special?

Chamomile isn't just another pretty flower; it holds a revered place in both traditional medicine and modern herbalism, cherished for its gentle yet powerful calming properties. Its historical significance and delightful characteristics make it a standout herb for any garden.

What Are the Two Main Types of Chamomile?

When you hear "chamomile," you're likely thinking of one of two main species, both valued for similar benefits but with slightly different growth habits and uses. Knowing the difference helps you choose the right one for your garden and needs.

1. German Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla or Matricaria recutita):

   • Description: This is the most popular type for herbal tea and medicinal uses. It's an annual plant, meaning it completes its life cycle (grows, flowers, sets seed, and dies) in one growing season. It grows taller, usually reaching 1-2 feet high, with branched stems. The flowers are small, dainty, and have a prominent raised, hollow yellow cone in the center surrounded by white petals. The leaves are feathery and finely divided.
   • Uses: The flowers are primarily used for making chamomile tea, essential oils, and topical preparations. It has a sweeter, more apple-like scent.
   • Growth Habit: Tends to grow upright and can reseed easily, so it often appears to come back year after year even though individual plants are annuals.
   • Why it's special: Its higher concentration of beneficial compounds (like chamazulene and bisabolol) makes it the preferred choice for therapeutic purposes. It's the "medicinal" chamomile.

2. Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile or Anthemis nobilis):

   • Description: This type is a perennial, meaning it lives for more than two years and comes back year after year. It has a creeping, low-growing habit, forming a dense mat, typically only 4-12 inches tall. Its flowers are similar to German chamomile but often slightly flatter and less prominently conical in the center. The foliage is also feathery but generally more dense.
   • Uses: Roman chamomile is excellent as a groundcover, for "chamomile lawns," or between stepping stones where its delightful scent is released when walked upon. It can also be used for tea, though its flavor is often described as slightly more bitter than German chamomile, and it's more commonly used in essential oils and aromatherapy due to its calming aroma.
   • Growth Habit: Spreads readily, making it a great choice for covering bare spots or replacing grass in small areas.
   • Why it's special: Its perennial nature and low-growing habit make it ideal for landscaping purposes, offering evergreen charm and aromatic beauty. It's the "lawn" or "groundcover" chamomile.

While both types are lovely, if your primary goal is to harvest flowers for a calming cup of tea, German chamomile is usually the better choice. If you want a fragrant, low-maintenance groundcover, go for Roman chamomile.

What Are the Key Benefits of Chamomile for People?

Chamomile's reputation as a soothing herb isn't just folklore; it's backed by centuries of use and a growing body of scientific research. Its gentle power offers a range of benefits for your well-being.

• Promotes Relaxation and Sleep: This is by far the most well-known benefit. Chamomile tea is a popular bedtime drink. It contains compounds like apigenin that bind to certain receptors in the brain, helping to reduce anxiety and promote drowsiness. Drinking a cup before bed can lead to a more restful night's sleep.
• Aids Digestion: Chamomile is a carminative, meaning it helps to relieve gas and bloating. It can soothe an upset stomach, ease indigestion, and even help with mild symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) by relaxing the smooth muscles of the digestive tract.
• Reduces Stress and Anxiety: Beyond sleep, the calming effects of chamomile can also help ease general feelings of stress and anxiety during the day without causing drowsiness (unless consumed in larger amounts). It's a gentle mood enhancer.
• Anti-Inflammatory Properties: Chamomile contains flavonoids and other compounds that have anti-inflammatory effects. This means it can help reduce swelling and pain, both internally and externally. This is why it's sometimes used for skin irritations, minor cuts, or even sore throats.
• Soothes Skin Irritations: Applied topically (as a cooled tea compress or in a balm), chamomile can help calm irritated skin, reduce redness, and provide relief for conditions like eczema, sunburn, or diaper rash.
• Supports Immune Health: While not a direct immune booster, chamomile's anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial properties can help the body's natural defenses, particularly when dealing with colds or minor infections.
• Antioxidant Power: Like many herbs, chamomile is rich in antioxidants, which help protect your cells from damage caused by free radicals. This contributes to overall health and well-being.
• Mild Pain Relief: Due to its anti-inflammatory and muscle-relaxing effects, chamomile can offer mild relief from headaches, menstrual cramps, and muscle spasms.

Having fresh chamomile in your garden means you have a natural, gentle remedy readily available whenever you need a moment of calm, a digestive aid, or a comforting bedtime ritual.

What Are the Benefits of Chamomile for the Garden Ecosystem?

Chamomile's charm extends beyond human well-being; it's also a wonderful companion plant that can benefit your entire garden ecosystem.

• Attracts Pollinators: The small, daisy-like flowers of chamomile are a magnet for beneficial insects. Bees, hoverflies, and other pollinators are drawn to its nectar, which helps ensure good pollination for your other flowering plants, fruits, and vegetables. A garden full of pollinators is a healthy, productive garden.
• Attracts Beneficial Insects (Pest Control): Beyond pollinators, chamomile also attracts predatory insects like hoverflies (whose larvae eat aphids) and parasitic wasps. These good bugs prey on common garden pests, helping to keep your plant population balanced naturally without the need for chemical pesticides. This promotes a truly eco-friendly garden.
• Dynamic Accumulator (Potential Soil Improvement): Some gardeners consider chamomile a "dynamic accumulator." This means it's believed to draw up certain minerals from deeper in the soil and, when its leaves and flowers decompose, return those nutrients to the topsoil, making them available to other plants. While not a dramatic effect, it contributes to overall soil health over time.
• Companion Plant for Vegetables: Chamomile is often planted near cabbage, onions, and members of the brassica family (broccoli, cauliflower). It's believed to enhance the flavor and growth of these neighboring plants and possibly deter some pests. Its presence also promotes general plant vigor.
• "Plant Doctor" Reputation: Historically, chamomile has been called the "plant doctor" or "physician's plant." It's believed that planting chamomile near ailing plants can help them recover and improve their health, though the exact mechanism is still widely debated, it might be due to its ability to attract beneficial microbes to the soil or subtle chemical interactions.
• Groundcover (Roman Chamomile): Roman chamomile's low-growing, mat-forming habit makes it an excellent living mulch. It suppresses weeds, helps retain soil moisture, and protects the soil from erosion. Its evergreen nature in many climates provides year-round ground coverage.
• Adds Biodiversity: Simply by adding another plant species to your garden, you increase its biodiversity, creating a more resilient and balanced ecosystem.

Integrating chamomile into your garden isn't just about cultivating a beautiful herb for your tea; it's about fostering a healthier, more vibrant, and self-sustaining garden environment.

Where Are the Best Places to Plant Chamomile?

Knowing what makes chamomile special is great, but to truly let its charm unfold, you need to understand its specific growing needs. Getting the right spot in your garden is key to its success.

Does Chamomile Grow Best in Sun or Shade?

Chamomile is a sun-loving plant, and getting the light conditions right is fundamental for abundant blooms and potent herbal properties.

• Full Sun is Ideal: For both German and Roman chamomile, full sun is generally the best condition. This means at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. In full sun, chamomile will produce the most flowers, which is crucial if you're growing it for tea or other medicinal uses. The plants will also be more compact and less leggy.
• Partial Sun/Light Shade Tolerance: While full sun is preferred, chamomile can tolerate partial sun (about 4-6 hours of direct sun) or light afternoon shade, especially in very hot climates.
  • In Hot Climates: If you live in an area with scorching summer afternoons, a location that gets morning sun and some light afternoon shade can actually be beneficial. This protects the plant from extreme heat stress, which can cause wilting or reduce flowering.
  • Reduced Flowering: Be aware that in less than full sun, your chamomile plants might produce fewer flowers, and their growth might be a bit more stretched or "leggy" as they reach for light. The concentration of beneficial compounds in the flowers might also be slightly lower.

Overall, aim for as much direct sunlight as you can provide, especially for German chamomile grown for harvesting. For Roman chamomile as a groundcover, good sun exposure will help it form a dense, even mat.

What Is the Best Soil for Chamomile Plants?

Chamomile is remarkably adaptable when it comes to soil, but it definitely has preferences that will lead to a healthier, more productive plant.

• Well-Draining Soil is Crucial: This is the most important factor. Chamomile absolutely hates "wet feet," meaning its roots sitting in soggy, waterlogged soil. Poor drainage can quickly lead to root rot and plant demise.
  • How to ensure drainage: If you have heavy clay soil, amend it heavily with organic matter like compost or coarse sand to improve drainage. Raised beds are also an excellent solution for areas with poor drainage.
• Moderately Fertile Soil: While chamomile benefits from some nutrients, it doesn't need overly rich soil. In fact, excessively rich soil can sometimes lead to more leafy growth and fewer flowers.
  • Amending: If your soil is very poor, mixing in a moderate amount of compost (e.g., a 2-3 inch layer dug into the top 6 inches) will be sufficient to provide a good start. Avoid heavy synthetic fertilizers, as chamomile prefers a more natural, balanced nutrient supply.
• Loamy to Sandy Loam Texture: Ideal soil for chamomile will be loose, crumbly, and easy for roots to penetrate. A loamy or sandy loam texture allows for good air circulation around the roots.
• Slightly Acidic to Neutral pH: Chamomile prefers a soil pH between (6.0) and (7.5), which is slightly acidic to neutral. Most garden soils fall within this range, so you typically don't need to adjust the pH unless you know your soil is extremely acidic or alkaline.
• Container Growing: If growing in pots, use a high-quality potting mix for herbs that is specifically formulated for good drainage. You can mix in a handful of perlite to further enhance drainage.

In summary, aim for soil that drains quickly and isn't overly heavy or overly fertilized. This will give your chamomile the happy home it needs to produce those abundant, soothing flowers.

What Temperatures Does Chamomile Prefer?

Chamomile is quite hardy and adaptable to a range of temperatures, making it a relatively easy herb to grow in many climates.

• Cool to Moderate Temperatures: Chamomile generally prefers cool to moderate temperatures for optimal growth and flowering. It thrives in spring and early summer weather.
  • Ideal Range: Day temperatures between (60^\circ\text{F}) and (75^\circ\text{F}) ((15^\circ\text{C}) and (24^\circ\text{C})) are ideal.
• Tolerance for Heat: Both German and Roman chamomile can tolerate hotter summer temperatures, especially if they receive consistent moisture and perhaps some afternoon shade in extreme heat. However, very prolonged hot spells (consistently above (85^\circ\text{F}) or (30^\circ\text{C})) can cause the plants to slow down flowering or even start to "bolt" (go to seed prematurely), especially German chamomile.
• Tolerance for Cold:
  • German Chamomile (Annual): As an annual, individual plants will die with the first hard frost. However, they are quite cold-hardy for spring planting and can even handle a light frost when young. They will often self-seed and return the following spring.
  • Roman Chamomile (Perennial): This type is quite cold-hardy, usually surviving winters down to USDA Zone 4. Its evergreen foliage can even provide some winter interest in milder climates. In very cold areas, it might die back to the ground but will re-emerge in spring.
• Starting Seeds: For both types, starting seeds indoors in cooler conditions (around (55-65^\circ\text{F}) or (13-18^\circ\text{C})) can help with germination. Once transplanted, they prefer the warmer but not scorching temperatures.

In essence, chamomile enjoys a comfortable, mild climate. It's not a fan of extreme heat or extreme cold, but its tolerance allows it to grow well in most temperate garden zones.

Does Chamomile Like Humidity?

Chamomile plants are not particularly fussy about humidity levels. Unlike some tropical houseplants that demand high humidity, chamomile thrives in a wide range of moisture levels in the air, similar to what you'd find in a typical outdoor garden.

• Average Outdoor Humidity: It does best in average outdoor humidity conditions. You don't need to worry about increasing humidity for it, and it generally doesn't suffer in drier climates as long as its roots get enough water.
• Avoid Excessive Humidity (Can Lead to Fungal Issues): In fact, extremely high, stagnant humidity, especially combined with poor air circulation, can sometimes be detrimental for chamomile. It can create conditions favorable for fungal diseases like powdery mildew, particularly on the foliage.
• Watering and Air Circulation: Focus more on proper watering (consistent moisture but not soggy) and ensuring good air circulation around your plants, especially if you have them planted densely or if you live in a very humid region. Proper spacing between plants helps.

So, for chamomile, humidity is rarely a concern. Just let it enjoy the natural air conditions of your outdoor garden, and it will generally be happy!

How Do I Plant Chamomile in My Garden?

Once you've picked the perfect sunny spot with well-draining soil, planting chamomile is a relatively simple and rewarding process. You can start it from seed or purchase young plants.

When Is the Best Time to Plant Chamomile?

Timing your chamomile planting correctly ensures the best start and a bountiful harvest.

• Starting from Seed:
  • Indoors: For German chamomile (annual) in cooler climates, start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last expected frost date. This gives the plants a head start and a longer growing season.
  • Outdoors (Direct Sow): You can direct sow chamomile seeds directly into the garden after all danger of frost has passed in spring, when the soil has warmed up. For Roman chamomile (perennial), direct sowing in spring or late summer/early fall is ideal.
  • Fall Sowing (for German Chamomile): In mild winter climates (zones 8 and warmer), you can even sow German chamomile seeds in late fall. They will often germinate in early spring, giving you a very early crop.
• Planting Young Plants/Transplants:
  • If you buy young chamomile plants from a nursery, wait until after your last frost date in spring, when outdoor temperatures are consistently mild. This is usually the same time you would plant other tender annuals.
  • For Roman chamomile intended as a groundcover, spring or early fall planting allows the plant to establish before extreme temperatures.

The key is to avoid planting young chamomile outdoors when there's a risk of hard frost. German chamomile will give you a single, long harvest season before dying back, while Roman chamomile will establish and return year after year.

How to Prepare the Soil for Chamomile

Even though chamomile isn't super picky, a little bit of soil preparation will go a long way in ensuring its health and productivity.

1. Choose Your Spot: Re-confirm your chosen location receives full sun (or partial sun in hot climates) and has good air circulation.
2. Test Drainage: Before doing anything, check your soil's drainage. Dig a small hole (about 12 inches deep and wide), fill it with water, and see how long it takes to drain. If it takes longer than a few hours, you have poor drainage.
3. Loosen the Soil: Dig down at least 8-10 inches, turning the soil over to loosen it. This helps with aeration and root penetration.
4. Amend for Drainage (if needed): If your soil has poor drainage (heavy clay), mix in a generous amount of organic matter like compost, aged manure, or coarse sand. Aim to incorporate a 2-4 inch layer of organic matter into the top 6-8 inches of soil. This will make the soil lighter and improve its ability to drain excess water.
5. Add a Little Fertility: If your soil is very lean, a thin layer of compost (1-2 inches) worked into the topsoil will provide sufficient nutrients for chamomile. Avoid excessive nitrogen fertilizers, as this can lead to lush green growth at the expense of flowers.
6. Rake Smooth: Rake the surface of the soil smooth, removing any large clumps or rocks.

Well-prepared, well-draining soil creates the ideal foundation for your chamomile to thrive.

How to Plant Chamomile Seeds

Chamomile seeds are tiny, so planting them requires a light touch.

1. Prepare a Seed Starting Mix (for indoor sowing): Use a sterile, fine-textured seed starting mix in seed trays or small pots.
2. Surface Sow (Important!): Chamomile seeds need light to germinate, so they should not be buried deep.
   • Indoors: Sprinkle the tiny seeds thinly over the surface of the moistened seed starting mix. Gently press them down so they make good contact with the soil, but do not cover them with soil.
   • Outdoors: After preparing your garden bed, scatter the seeds thinly over the surface. Lightly rake the area, or gently pat the soil to ensure good seed-to-soil contact.
3. Keep Moist: The critical step for germination is consistent moisture.
   • Indoors: Mist the seeds daily with a fine plant mister to keep the surface damp. You can also cover the tray with a clear plastic dome or plastic wrap to create a mini-greenhouse effect and retain humidity.
   • Outdoors: Water gently with a fine spray to avoid washing away the seeds. Keep the area consistently moist until germination occurs.
4. Provide Light and Warmth:
   • Indoors: Place trays under grow lights for 12-14 hours a day, or in a very bright windowsill. Keep temperatures around (55-65^\circ\text{F}) ((13-18^\circ\text{C})).
   • Outdoors: Natural sunlight and soil warmth will do the trick.
5. Thin Seedlings: Once seedlings emerge (usually within 7-14 days), thin them to about 6-8 inches apart for German chamomile and 4-6 inches for Roman chamomile to give them enough room to grow and ensure good air circulation. You can snip off the weaker seedlings at the soil line.
6. Harden Off (for indoor starts): Before transplanting indoor seedlings outdoors, gradually "harden them off" over 7-10 days. This means slowly exposing them to outdoor conditions (wind, sun, cooler temperatures) for increasing periods each day.
7. Transplant Outdoors: Once hardened off and all danger of frost has passed, carefully transplant your chamomile seedlings into their prepared garden bed or containers.

How to Plant Chamomile from Young Plants (Transplants)

If you've purchased young chamomile plants from a nursery, planting them is even easier.

1. Prepare the Soil: Ensure your garden bed or container has been prepared as described above, with well-draining soil.
2. Dig a Hole: Dig a hole for each plant that is slightly wider and as deep as the plant's root ball.
3. Remove from Container: Gently remove the chamomile plant from its nursery pot. If the roots are tightly bound, gently tease them apart at the bottom.
4. Place the Plant: Place the plant in the hole so that the top of the root ball is level with the surrounding soil.
5. Backfill: Gently backfill the hole with soil, firming it lightly around the base of the plant to remove any large air pockets.
6. Water Thoroughly: Water the newly planted chamomile well. This helps settle the soil around the roots and reduces transplant shock.
7. Mulch (Optional): A light layer of organic mulch (like straw or shredded leaves) around the plants can help retain moisture and suppress weeds, though Roman chamomile will eventually form its own dense mat.
8. Spacing: Space German chamomile plants 6-12 inches apart, and Roman chamomile plants 4-8 inches apart, depending on whether you want a dense groundcover or individual plants.

Whether from seed or transplant, giving your chamomile a good start with proper soil and timely planting will lay the foundation for a healthy, fragrant, and abundant harvest.

Caring for Your Chamomile for Continued Abundance

Once your chamomile is in the ground, its care is relatively straightforward. It's a low-maintenance herb, but a little consistent attention will ensure it keeps producing those charming, soothing flowers all season long.

How Often Should I Water My Chamomile?

Watering is crucial for chamomile, especially when young, but it's important not to overdo it.

• Establishing Plants: For newly planted seeds or young transplants, keep the soil consistently moist until they are well-established. This might mean watering every day or every other day, depending on your climate and soil.
• Mature Plants: Once established, chamomile is fairly drought-tolerant. It prefers consistently moist, but not soggy, soil.
  • Check the Soil: The best way to know when to water is to feel the soil. Stick your finger about an inch or two into the soil near the base of the plant. If it feels dry, it's time to water. If it still feels moist, wait.
  • Deep and Infrequent (Generally): It's better to water deeply and less frequently than to give shallow daily sprinkles. Deep watering encourages the roots to grow deeper, making the plant more resilient to dry spells.
  • Climate Matters: In hot, dry climates or during heatwaves, you may need to water more frequently. In cooler, humid climates or during rainy periods, you'll water less.
  • Container Plants: Chamomile in containers will dry out faster than those in the ground, so they will typically need more frequent watering. Ensure pots have excellent drainage.

Always make sure the soil drains well, as chamomile is highly susceptible to root rot if it sits in waterlogged conditions.

Do I Need to Fertilize My Chamomile?

Chamomile is not a heavy feeder, so it generally doesn't require a lot of supplemental fertilizer, especially if your soil was already prepared with organic matter.

• Rich Soil is Enough: If you amended your soil with compost or well-rotted manure before planting, that's usually enough to provide all the nutrients your chamomile needs for the season.
• Avoid Excessive Nitrogen: Too much nitrogen fertilizer (which promotes leafy growth) can reduce flower production, which is what you're primarily growing chamomile for.
• Light Feeding for Long Seasons: If you have very poor soil or are growing German chamomile in a long season and want to encourage continuous blooming, you can apply a very dilute, balanced liquid organic fertilizer (like liquid kelp fertilizer or fish emulsion fertilizer) once a month during peak flowering. Always dilute it to half or quarter strength.
• Container Plants: Plants in containers might need a bit more regular feeding (every 4-6 weeks) because nutrients can leach out with watering. Again, use a dilute liquid organic fertilizer.

When in doubt, err on the side of less fertilizer. Chamomile prefers a leaner diet.

How to Harvest Chamomile for Tea and Other Uses

Harvesting chamomile is perhaps the most rewarding part of growing it! The timing and method ensure you get the most potent and fragrant flowers.

• When to Harvest:
  • Time of Day: Harvest flowers in the late morning, after the dew has dried but before the intense heat of the midday sun. This is when the essential oil content (and thus the fragrance and potency) is highest.
  • Stage of Bloom: Harvest flowers when they are fully open, but before the white petals start to droop downwards. The yellow center should be plump and rounded. This is when they are at their peak for flavor and medicinal properties.
• How to Harvest:
  • Method: You can simply pinch or snip off the flower heads just below the base of the yellow cone, leaving as little stem as possible.
  • Tools: For small amounts, use your fingers. For larger harvests, a small pair of pruning snips can make it faster.
  • Encourage More Blooms: Regular harvesting encourages the plant to produce more flowers! This is called "deadheading" and helps prolong the flowering season for German chamomile.
• Processing the Harvest:
  • Drying: This is the most common way to preserve chamomile flowers for tea.
    • Spread the harvested flowers in a single layer on a clean screen, a fine mesh drying rack, or a paper towel in a warm, dry, well-ventilated area, out of direct sunlight.
    • Allow them to dry completely. This can take several days to a week or more, depending on humidity. They are dry when they feel papery and brittle.
    • Alternatively, you can use a food dehydrator set to its lowest temperature (around (95^\circ\text{F}) or (35^\circ\text{C})).
  • Storage: Once thoroughly dry, store the flowers in an airtight glass jar or container, in a cool, dark place. Properly dried and stored, they will retain their potency and flavor for up to a year.
  • Fresh Use: You can also use fresh chamomile flowers for tea immediately after harvesting for the most vibrant flavor.

Common Pests and Diseases on Chamomile

Chamomile is generally a very resilient plant and not usually bothered by many serious pests or diseases. However, a few common issues can sometimes arise, especially if conditions aren't ideal.

• Pests:
  • Aphids: Small, soft-bodied insects that can cluster on new growth and undersides of leaves, sucking sap.
    • Solution: Usually, a strong spray of water from the hose can dislodge them. For heavier infestations, use an insecticidal soap spray (ensure it's safe for edible plants). Remember, chamomile attracts beneficial insects that naturally prey on aphids, so sometimes patience is key!
  • Thrips/Spider Mites: Tiny insects that can cause speckling or bronzing of leaves. Spider mites are very tiny and sometimes produce fine webbing. These thrive in hot, dry conditions.
    • Solution: Increase humidity (for spider mites). Use insecticidal soap or neem oil spray (organic and safe for edibles).
• Diseases:
  • Powdery Mildew: A common fungal disease that appears as white, powdery patches on leaves and stems. It thrives in humid, stagnant conditions.
    • Solution: Ensure good air circulation by spacing plants appropriately. Water at the base of the plant to keep foliage dry. In mild cases, a solution of baking soda (1 teaspoon per quart of water with a few drops of dish soap) or neem oil spray can help. Remove severely affected leaves.
  • Root Rot: Caused by consistently soggy soil due to overwatering or poor drainage. The plant will wilt, and the base of the stem will become mushy.
    • Solution: Prevention is the best cure. Ensure excellent drainage. If the plant is already suffering, it might be too late. For container plants, let the soil dry out more between waterings. For garden beds, improve drainage if this is a recurring issue.

Regular observation is your best tool for managing pests and diseases. A healthy, well-cared-for chamomile plant in good conditions is typically quite resistant. Enjoy the soothing beauty and abundant harvest that your well-tended chamomile garden provides!