Anthemis nobilis

The Common Chamomile or English Chamomile is a perennial plant grown for its ornamental, medicinal, and cosmetic properties.  It is a charming Asteraceae that forms a bush of 10 to 30 cm (4 to 12in). Its foliage is highly divided and it is covered, in summer, with pretty daisy-like flowers, white with a yellow centre. It is undemanding and thrives in sandy and fertile soils.

Common Chamomile is highly aromatic, and dried flowers are used to make herbal teas. Calming, a chamomile infusion helps fight insomnia. It is also this chamomile that is used for its hair lightening properties.

Harvest for wildflower bouquets: Chamomile can be used to compose very pretty wildflower bouquets. Harvest a few clusters when the flowers are fully open but not yet ripe: the ligules (outer florets) then bend downwards.

Harvesting flowers for herbal teas (or other uses): Cut the inflorescences when they are fully open but not yet ripe, preferably in the morning. The aromatic properties of chamomile are higher when the flowers are used fresh. If you want to dry them for preservation, spread the flowers on a rack or tray in a dry place away from light. The flowers are well dried when they start to darken.

The gardener's culinary tip: Crumble 4 to 5 chamomile flowers into your pastries to give them a unique and refined flavor.

The gardener's little trick: Chamomile, like nasturtium, attracts aphids, thus acting as a protector of the vegetable garden. In addition, it attracts two great allies of gardens and vegetable patches: the hoverfly and the lacewing. The hoverfly, sometimes confused with wasps because of its yellow and black striped abdomen, has only one pair of wings. Its larvae are ruthless with aphids, which they feed on. Once adult, it becomes a good pollinator. As for the lacewing, which besides having a pretty name and beautiful silhouette, lets its offspring dismantle aphid, mealybug, or red spider mite commandos. Unfortunately, hoverflies and lacewings are extremely sensitive to insecticides, even organic ones.