A non-native annual herb in the Asteraceae (daisy) family native to Europe, India, and China. Showy, aromatic white flowers with yellow centers dot the plant for a long bloom season in the summer. It can be used for tea, potpourris, garnishes, and crafts. The tea has long been thought to provide a sedating effect and it is more often used for tea than its cousin, Roman Chamomile. Can cause allergic skin reactions or oral swelling to those with ragweed allergies. Use it in an herb garden, in the crevices of a rock garden, or planted along a border front or walkway. Tuck it in the spall spaces of a cottage garden or near a patio or seating area where the fragrance can be enjoyed. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: VIDEO Created by Laura Barth for "Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Nuts," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
Available space
Less than 12 inches
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 1 in. - 2 ft. 6 in. | Width: 0 ft. 8 in. - 0 ft. 1 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Mounding
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Filiform; Linear
Leaf value
Fragrant
Leaf size
3-6 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Fern-like light green and feathery
Flower color
White
Flower value
Edible; Fragrant; Good Dried; Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Head
Flower shape
Radial
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Daisy-like flowers bloom summer to fall. Each flower features 10-20 petal-like white rays surrounding a showy bright yellow domed center disk of tubular yellow florets.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Temp. Eurasia to Indo-China
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Flowers
Edibility
Flowers for tea and other culinary uses.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Meadow; Patio; Rock Wall; Small Space; Walkways