Chamomile is an annual medicinal herb, long valued for its traditional uses. It's hardy across USDA zones 2 through 8, stands up to deer and grows just as well in a container as in the ground. Its summer flowers are a moderate draw for honeybees, native bees, and butterflies.
Zones
2-8
pH Range
5-7
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
70
Score Chamomile on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether chamomile actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score chamomile against your land's real conditions.
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What Chamomile is
Chamomile grows as an annual and reaches around two feet at maturity. It blooms white in summer. It's also deer-resistant and well suited to containers.
How to grow Chamomile
Chamomile grows in USDA zones 2 through 8 and is ready to harvest about 70 days after planting. Chamomile does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5 to 7, on well-drained ground. It needs around 1,000 growing degree days to mature and a growing season of at least 270 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
2-8
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5 - 7
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
42.8°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Days to Maturity
70 days
German chamomile; annual; reseeds readily.
UMD-Herb; Johnny's
GDD Required
1000+
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
2 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
270+
plant_species_v5.csv
Start the season right
Plant chamomile in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Chamomile prefers pH 5 to 7 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at its peak
Harvest the part you grow chamomile for — flower, leaf, or root — at its seasonal peak.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — chamomile isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Chamomile offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Chamomile thrives
Chamomile is hardy across USDA zones 2 through 8. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 2–8·Where Chamomile growsOpen map →
Continental US shown — Alaska and US Pacific territories sit outside the federal map's polygon dataset.
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Chamomile can grow in these states:
See if Chamomile will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether chamomile actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Chamomile in my zone?
Chamomile grows in USDA hardiness zones 2 through 8 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
How long does Chamomile take to grow?
Chamomile is ready to harvest about 70 days after planting (UMD-Herb; Johnny's). Your local frost dates and soil temperature move that window earlier or later.
When should you plant Chamomile?
Most growers plant chamomile after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 270-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Chamomile need?
Chamomile needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Chamomile need?
Chamomile prefers soil pH 5 to 7, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Chamomile attract pollinators?
Yes — chamomile's flowers are a solid nectar source for honeybees, native bees, and butterflies (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Chamomile safe for pets?
Chamomile is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.