Shop premium chamomile seeds at KVITER — heirloom, open-pollinated, non-GMO chamomile flower seeds bred for high germination rates and grown for gardeners who want reliable results every season. Whether you're planting a calming herb garden, growing your own chamomile tea, or seeding a fragrant ground cover, our chamomile plant seeds give you the purity and vigor that heirloom growers expect.
We currently offer two true heirloom varieties, sold in generous 2500-seed packs so you always have enough for succession sowing, bulk plantings, or sharing with friends.
Why Choose KVITER Chamomile Seeds for Planting
- High germination rates — every batch of chamomile seeds is tested before packing, so you get strong, even sprouting instead of gaps in your garden bed.
- Heirloom, open-pollinated varieties — these are not hybrids. Save your own chamomile flower seeds season after season.
- Non-GMO seeds — no genetic modification, ever. Just clean, traditional genetics.
- Bulk chamomile seeds available — 2500-seed packs make it easy to buy chamomile seeds in bulk for market gardens, herbal tea production, or large-scale ground cover plantings.
Which Chamomile Seeds to Buy
German Chamomile (Matricaria Chamomilla) Flower Seeds
German Chamomile is the classic choice for chamomile tea seeds. This annual grows upright to about 1–2 feet, self-seeds readily, and produces abundant daisy-like blooms with a strong, sweet apple scent. If you're growing chamomile primarily to dry the flowers for tea or herbal remedies, matricaria chamomilla seeds are the variety most tea companies and herbalists actually use.
Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum Nobile) Seeds
Roman Chamomile is a low, spreading perennial — the variety behind traditional chamomile lawns. It's the better pick if you want a fragrant, walkable ground cover or a soft border edging rather than a tall flowering herb bed.
Chamomile Characteristics and Properties
Chamomile is known as a medicinal herb and has been valued for thousands of years, and its reputation comes down to a well-documented set of natural properties found in the flower's essential oils and compounds:
- Sedative and calming effects: Chamomile plant is best known for its mild sedative properties, traditionally used to ease anxiety, promote relaxation, and support better sleep.
- Anti-inflammatory action: Compounds in chamomile, particularly in Roman Chamomile essential oil, help reduce inflammation and are commonly used in remedies for skin irritation and swelling.
- Antispasmodic properties: Chamomile tea is traditionally used to relax digestive muscles, easing stomach cramps, bloating, and colic, including in infants.
- Antibacterial and antiseptic qualities: Chamomile has natural antibacterial properties that support its long history of use in wound care and skin treatments.
- Antioxidant content: German chamomile is rich in antioxidant compounds, including apigenin, which is also linked to its calming effect on the nervous system.
- Aromatic profile: Both varieties share a distinctive sweet, apple-like scent, released from the foliage and flowers — the trait that gave chamomile its name (from the Greek for "ground apple").
- Mild, generally well-tolerated: Chamomile is considered gentle enough for regular use as a tea or topical application, though those with ragweed allergies should use it with caution.
How Chamomile Is Used
Chamomile has been cultivated for centuries, and its uses go well beyond the garden bed:
- Herbal tea: Dried chamomile flowers, mainly from the German variety, are steeped for a calming, mildly sweet tea traditionally used to ease anxiety and promote sleep.
- Natural remedies: Chamomile is a common ingredient in home remedies for upset stomach, colic in infants, and minor skin inflammation.
- Skincare and cosmetics: Chamomile extract and essential oil, especially from the Roman variety, are used in lotions, salves, and soothing skincare products for their anti-inflammatory properties.
- Companion planting: Interplanted near vegetables and other herb seeds, chamomile helps attract pollinators and may improve the vigor of nearby plants.
- Ground cover and lawn alternative: Roman chamomile's low, mat-forming growth makes it a fragrant substitute for turf grass in low-traffic areas.
- Cut and dried flowers: Both varieties can be harvested fresh for arrangements or air-dried for use in teas, sachets, and potpourri.
How to Grow Chamomile from Seed
Chamomile seeds are tiny and need light to germinate, so surface-sow rather than burying them.
- Timing: Direct sow in early spring or fall (German Chamomile tolerates light frost); start indoors 6–8 weeks before your last frost date if you want a head start.
- Sowing depth: Scatter seeds on the soil surface and press lightly and do not cover them.
- Germination: Expect sprouts in 7–14 days at a soil temperature around 65°F (18°C).
- Spacing: Thin seedlings to 4–8 inches apart once they reach about 1 inch tall.
- Light & soil: Chamomile grows in full sun to light shade, in well-drained soil..
When to Sow Chamomile Seeds by USDA Zone
Chamomile germinates best when soil temperatures sit around 65°F, so timing shifts by climate. Use this as a starting point for your growing zone, then adjust for your local last/first frost dates.
Zone 3–4: Direct sow outdoors in late spring, after the last frost. If starting indoors, begin 6–8 weeks before the last frost. Fall sowing is not recommended in these zones due to harsh winters.
Zone 5–6: Direct sow outdoors in early-to-mid spring. For an indoor start, begin 6–8 weeks before the last frost. Fall sowing can also work if done in late fall, before the ground freezes.
Zone 7–8: Direct sow outdoors in early spring or early fall. If starting indoors, begin 4–6 weeks before the last frost. Fall sowing is best done mid-to-late fall.
Zone 9–10: Direct sow outdoors from fall through winter, as chamomile prefers the cool season here. Indoor starting is optional, since direct sowing usually works well. Fall sowing is recommended for winter or spring blooms.
Buy Chamomile Seeds in Bulk
Growing for a tea business, an apothecary line, or a large pollinator garden? Our chamomile seeds bulk packs (2500 seeds per pack) are priced for growers who need volume without sacrificing heirloom quality or germination performance. Combine German and Roman chamomile plant seeds to cover both culinary and ornamental uses in one order.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take chamomile seeds to germinate?
Most chamomile seeds germinate in 7–14 days when kept moist at around 65°F, provided they aren't buried too deep.
Do chamomile seeds need light to germinate?
Yes. Chamomile flower seeds germinate best when sown on the soil surface and exposed to light — covering them can significantly slow or prevent sprouting.
What's the difference between German and Roman Chamomile seeds?
German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) is an upright annual mainly grown for tea and medicinal use. Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) is a low, creeping perennial better suited to ground cover and lawn alternatives.
Can I direct sow chamomile seeds outdoors?
Yes. Direct sow in early spring or fall. If you start in fall, your seeds get naturally cold-stratified over winter for stronger spring germination.
Are your chamomile seeds heirloom and non-GMO?
Yes. All KVITER Chamomile seeds are open-pollinated heirloom varieties with no genetic modification, so you can save and replant seed from your own harvest.
How many Chamomile seeds do I need per garden bed?
Because seeds are tiny and often oversown, a light pinch-and-scatter approach per square foot is typical. Our 2500-seed packs comfortably cover a standard herb bed with seed left over for a second sowing.
