I study landscape ecology and through my studies have discovered a love for plants. Plants are not only beautiful, but also have countless fascinating survival strategies. To bring a bit of nature into my home as well, I nurture my houseplants and herbs on every possible windowsill. Favourite fruit: rhubarb and all kinds of berries Favourite vegetables: onions and garlic
Chamomile species often look alike but differ in their composition of active ingredients. It is important to know the differences to avoid accidentally picking a poisonous chamomile species.
Identifying different types of chamomile can be difficult. There are even some plant species that bear the name chamomile but are actually members of a different plant genus than the German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla). They can also have similar ingredients and are also used in traditional medicine.
Chamomile is a popular herb known for its calming properties and sweet, apple-like fragrance. There are several different species of chamomile, including German chamomile, Roman chamomile, and wild chamomile. Chamomile can be used fresh or dried to make tea, skincare products, essential oils, and more. But before you harvest or purchase chamomile, it’s helpful to know how to identify it by its leaves and other characteristics.
Overview of Chamomile Leaves
The two main types of chamomile used for tea and medicine are German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) and Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) They have some slight differences in their leaves
- German Chamomile – Feathery, wispy appearance. Bright light green color. Highly divided and branched leaves with delicate texture.
- Roman Chamomile – Finely divided like parsley. Darker green. Shorter than German chamomile leaves. Flatter and thicker texture.
Both types emit a strong chamomile scent when crushed due to fragrant oils in glandular hairs on the leaves and stems
Details on Chamomile Leaf Appearance
Here are some more specific details on the appearance of chamomile foliage:
- Leaf Shape – Finely divided into segmented, fern-like leaflets with toothed edges.
- Leaf Margins – Leaflet tips are pointed, margins are smooth without teeth/serrations.
- Arrangement – Leaves emerge singly in alternating pattern up the slender stems.
- Texture – Delicate, soft, and feathery.
- Color – Most varieties have light green leaves, some may be more yellowish.
- Leaf Stems – Individual leaflets connect to a central rachis/stalk.
- Size – German chamomile leaves reach 2-3 inches long. Roman are 1-2 inches.
How to Identify Chamomile Leaves
Follow these tips to confidently identify chamomile foliage:
- Crush a leaf and smell for a strong, apple-like aroma.
- Examine the finely divided, ferny leaf shape and segmented leaflets.
- Look for small, white, daisy-like flowers to confirm it’s chamomile.
- Leaves emerge singly and alternate along slender stems and branches.
- Solid, flat green leaves likely indicate a chamomile lookalike plant.
Distinguishing Chamomile from Lookalikes
Some plants resemble chamomile, here is how to differentiate:
- Yarrow – Evenly distributed leaves, strongly scented. Clustered flowers.
- Wild Carrot – Lacy but not divided into leaflets. Has taproot and umbel flowers.
- Parsley – Shiny leaflets, parsley scent, low growing.
- Fennel – Thicker leaves, bulb base, anise-licorice odor.
- Dill – Larger, less divided feathers. Signature dill fragrance.
- Sweet Cicely – Maple-anise scent, white flowers, perennial.
Ideal Growing Conditions
Once identified, provide chamomile optimal growing conditions:
- Full sun location
- Sandy, well-draining soil
- Moderate moisture, drought tolerant
- Cool temperatures, tolerates frost
- Space plants 6-12 inches apart
- Frequently harvest leaves to encourage regrowth
- German chamomile readily reseeds itself
Chamomile’s lacy green foliage and distinct apple aroma make it easily recognizable once you know what to look for. A few observations like leaf shape, flower characteristics, and scent will help you confidently identify both German and Roman chamomile varieties. With this knowledge, you can grow, forage, or purchase chamomile to enjoy its many benefits.
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I study landscape ecology and through my studies have discovered a love for plants. Plants are not only beautiful, but also have countless fascinating survival strategies. To bring a bit of nature into my home as well, I nurture my houseplants and herbs on every possible windowsill. Favourite fruit: rhubarb and all kinds of berries Favourite vegetables: onions and garlic
Chamomile species often look alike but differ in their composition of active ingredients. It is important to know the differences to avoid accidentally picking a poisonous chamomile species.
Identifying different types of chamomile can be difficult. There are even some plant species that bear the name chamomile but are actually members of a different plant genus than the German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla). They can also have similar ingredients and are also used in traditional medicine.
Types of chamomile
There are about 25 species in the chamomile genus (Matricaria), two of which are German chamomile and wild chamomile (Matricaria discoidea). The closely related mayweed genus (Tripleurospermum) contains approximately 40 species, two of which are the rare sea mayweed (Tripleurospermum maritimum) and the scentless mayweed (Tripleurospermum inodorum). There are several more chamomile species from other genera that look like German chamomile and offer a wide range of uses as well.
German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), also known as scented mayweed, is commonly used to make chamomile tea, so it is a favourite in many gardens. As a result, it is commercially grown, but it can also be found growing in the wild and is native to the UK. German chamomile is being bred to improve the composition of the beneficial ingredients. Uniform growth is also a breeding aim for the commercial cultivation of chamomile. Some important varieties of German chamomile are:
- ‘Bodegold’: aromatic variety with large flowers
- ‘Gosal‘: chamomile oil from this variety contains a lot of bisabolol
- ‘Zloty Lan’: its essential oil contains a high proportion of the blue-coloured chamazulene
When harvesting chamomile in the wild, there is not only a risk of confusing it with less effective lookalikes but also with poisonous species like mayweed (Anthemis). So, it is essential to know the distinguishing characteristics of German chamomile:
- Rounded, arching flower base covered in small yellow tubular flowers with white ray florets
- Cut in half, the flower base is hollow on the inside
- German chamomile grows up to 50 cm tall
- All parts of the plant have a distinctive chamomile scent when rubbed between the fingers
Wild chamomile (Matricaria discoidea), often known as pineapple weed, belongs to the same genus as German chamomile. It is easy to identify, as the flower head only has greenish yellow dome floret in the centre without the typical white ray petals. While both have a hollow flower base and an intense chamomile scent in common, the lack of white ray petals is the distinguishing feature between German and wild chamomile. When it comes to ingredients, however, wild chamomile brings less to the table than German chamomile. It, too, can be used as a medicinal plant, but the effects are weaker.
Roman chamomile or common chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) belongs to a different genus, but it is almost identical to German chamomile in appearance and effect. However, unlike German chamomile, Roman chamomile is a perennial. At 15 to 30 cm tall, it is considerably smaller than German chamomile, but its benefits make up for the height difference due to the similar substances it contains. Another distinguishing feature of Roman chamomile is the leaves, which are more finely pinnate. In addition, the base of the flower head is filled with pith rather than hollow.
Scentless mayweed (Tripleurospermum inodorum), also known as double mayweed, grows throughout much of Europe. As the name suggests, it does not have the characteristic chamomile scent. Scentless mayweed also lacks the ingredients that would make it useful for medicinal purposes. In appearance, however, scentless mayweed looks just like German chamomile. Here too, the distinctive base of the flower head can be used as a clear distinguishing feature, as German chamomile has a hollow base. Simply cut the daisy-like flower in half to check.
Mayweed (Anthemis) also form a genus of their own. They include about 160 different species. Some give off a faint chamomile scent or even smell unpleasant. Some species are used for medicinal purposes, while others have no effect or can cause skin irritation or allergic reactions. The following species can be found in Europe:
- Eastern chamomile (Anthemis ruthenica): species with hairy leaves
- Austrian chamomile (Anthemis austriaca): leaves with felt-like hairs on the underside
- Stinking mayweed (Anthemis cotula): gives off an unpleasant odour and can irritate mucous membranes if consumed as a tea
- Corn chamomile (Anthemis arvensis): has faint chamomile smell and is sometimes used in medicine
At a glance: differences between mayweed and German chamomile
- Hollow flower base for German chamomile; pithy for mayweed
- German chamomile has hairless leaves; mayweed has hairy leaves
- German chamomile gives off a strong chamomile scent; mayweed gives off a weak or unpleasant scent
There is no danger of confusion when it comes to dyer’s chamomile (Anthemis tinctoria), which is also called yellow chamomile or golden marguerite. All of its flowers, including the ray florets, are yellow. It is no secret that yellow chamomile has a bright and beautiful colour. Dyer’s chamomile is used to dye wool and other fabrics, giving them a natural yellow glow.
What you DIDN’T know about Chamomile! Growing | Harvesting | Uses
FAQ
How do you identify chamomile leaves?
Leaves are alternate, yellow-green, slightly hairy, 0.5–2.5 inches long by 0.25–1.25 inch wide and very finely divided, with narrow leaflets and lobes. Crushed leaves have a strong, unpleasant odor.
Are chamomile leaves good for anything?
… extract has been frequently used as a mild sedative to calm nerves and reduce anxiety, to treat hysteria, nightmares, insomnia and other sleep problems …
Does chamomile have any poisonous look-alikes?
As a summer annual, winter annual, or short-lived perennial, Scentless Chamomile is a noxious weed often mistaken for its non-toxic look-alike, Ox-eye Daisy.Jul 5, 2023