Sativa - True Chamomile – Seeds

• Nature’s healing power: The flowers are rich in essential oils (such as chamazulene), which have anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and soothing effects.
• Insect magnet: As a classic wild plant, it offers a rich supply of nectar and pollen. It is an important food source for hoverflies, honeybees and many specialised wild bee species.
• Flexible cultivation: Whether in a garden bed, a herb spiral or a pot on the balcony – chamomile is undemanding and rewarding.

Cultivation & Care

True chamomile loves the sun and needs light above all else for germination:

• Location: Prefers sunny spots in fairly loose, loamy sandy soil. Nutrient requirements are low.
• Sowing (light-dependent germination): The seeds are very fine and must not be covered with soil (sowing depth 0 cm). Press down only lightly.
• Growing tip: Direct sowing is possible, but for a tidy bed, growing in trays and subsequently pricking out in small clumps is highly recommended. This helps the young plants compete better with weeds.
• Life cycle: Usually annual. If sown in August, it overwinters as a rosette and flowers as early as early spring (biennial).

Key planting details

• Botanical name: Matricaria chamomilla
• Lifespan: Annual (biennial if sown in August)
• Sowing depth: 0 cm (light-dependent germination!)
• Spacing within the row: 2 cm (planted in clumps)
• Spacing between rows: 25 cm
• Heat requirement: Low (germinates well even at cooler temperatures)

Ecological contribution: Bee-friendly

This plant is labelled bee-friendly. At a time of dwindling biodiversity, common chamomile offers a reliable source of energy for pollinators. As it often flowers over a long period, it is a key component of a healthy garden ecosystem.

Uses in the kitchen & medicine cabinet

• Tea herb: The dried flower heads are used to make classic chamomile tea for gastrointestinal complaints or colds.
• External use: As an infusion for facial steam baths or to treat minor skin irritations.
• Harvesting tip: Harvest the flowers on a sunny morning when they are in full bloom, but before they start to wilt. This is when the essential oil content is at its highest.