• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Together Time Family
  • Gardening
  • Herb Growing Guides
  • Harvesting and Preserving
  • Tools & Equipment
    • Chainsaws
    • Garden Hoses
    • Yardwork Tools
  • About

Harvesting Chamomile – How to Pick & Dry Chamomile

April 11, 2021 by Natasha 1 Comment

109 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet

Chamomile tea is a calming and soothing beverage with a long history of use. It can ease stress, encourage sleep, calm digestive upset, and is even gentle enough for children to enjoy.

Chamomile is also a delightful herb to grow in your garden. Roman chamomile (Anthemis nobilis) tends to be a low-growing perennial, and German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) is typically a taller, self-seeding annual. They can both be used interchangeably to make tea!

If you’re growing either in your garden, here’s a guide to when and how to harvest chamomile so that you can enjoy the perfect cup of herbal tea.

Text "how to pick and dry chamomile" next to an image with close up image of six growing chamomile blossoms. Chamomile looks like a small yellow and white daisy.

This post includes affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of these links, Together Time Family will receive a commission at no additional cost to you.

Table of Contents

  • Which Part of Chamomile Should You Harvest?
  • When to Harvest Chamomile Flowers
  • How to Harvest Chamomile
  • Drying and Storing Chamomile Flowers
  • How to store chamomile flowers
  • Simple Chamomile Tea Recipe
  • Enjoying Homegrown Herbal Tea

Which Part of Chamomile Should You Harvest?

Many herbs are grown so that their leaves can be harvested and used, but with chamomile you want to harvest the flowers. It’s the bright daisy-like blossoms that contain the volatile oils and plant compounds that make chamomile so beneficial (and delicious).

You can also harvest the seeds at the end of the season if you want to try growing plants from seed next year.

Chamomile seeds are easy to find so you can start your own tea garden. Get a chamomile seed set so you can try both Roman and German to see which you prefer!

Seed Needs, Chamomile Seed Packet Collection (Roman / German Chamomile...
Seed Needs, Chamomile Seed Packet Collection (Roman / German Chamomile...
  • Quality Chamomile seeds packaged by Seed Needs. Intended for the current and the following growing season. Packets are 3.25" wide by 4.50" tall and...
  • This duo contains 2 individual packets of Chamomile herb seeds. German Chamomile and Roman Chamomile are included.
  • The packets each contain 500 seeds, allowing you to grow a large amount of Chamomile plants, either indoors or directly outdoors.
Check current price

When to Harvest Chamomile Flowers

Chamomile flowers can be harvested all summer long, starting as soon as they bloom. In fact, you’ll want to harvest regularly for a few months, since the blossoms won’t all open at once.

To pick flowers at their peak, wait until they are either in full bloom or just about to fully open. You can still harvest blossoms that are past their prime, but they may not be as potent as those picked a bit earlier.

The best time of day for harvesting is in the morning, after the dew has dried but before the sun gets too hot.

The second best time to harvest chamomile flowers is whenever you have the chance. It’s better to pick prime blossoms at the “wrong” time than to let them go to waste!

A close up image of six growing chamomile blossoms. Chamomile looks like a small yellow and white daisy.

How to Harvest Chamomile

Unless you have a massive chamomile patch, the easiest way to harvest the flowers is with your fingers or a small pair of garden clippers. I recommend by go-to Fiskar’s Micro Tips.

Sale
Fiskars Gardening Tools: Micro-Tip Pruning Shears, Non-Stick...
Fiskars Gardening Tools: Micro-Tip Pruning Shears, Non-Stick...
  • Quality Garden Tools: Designed to help you cultivate a better garden, Fiskars garden and yard tools are equipped with smart technologies and...
  • Maximum power and precision: Micro-Tip blades cut all the way to the tip for clean, healthy cuts in tight spaces and stay sharp through heavy use;...
  • Designed to reduce fatigue: Awarded the Arthritis Foundation's Ease of UseSM Commendation for a design that's ideal for those with arthritis or...
Check current price

There are a few different ways to harvest chamomile, but the idea in all of them is to gently pull or snip the flowers off without pulling up or damaging your plants.

Many gardeners find it easiest to simply pinch individual flowers off and collect them in a basket as they go. You can do this by pinching the stalk just below an open flower with your thumb and forefinger until you break off the flower head.

A pair of woman's hands picking a chamomile flower from a patch of blossoming chamomile

Another, somewhat quicker method is to use your fingers like a rake to grab several flower heads at once. Then, you can hold the stems of the plant with your other hand and pull up on the flowers until they come loose.

Finally, you can also use a pair of clippers or scissors to snip off individual flowers. This tends to be slow going, but it keeps your plants intact and gives you cleanly cut flower heads. I don’t always cut flowers this way, but it’s my preferred method.

Harvesting Chamomile Seeds

If you enjoy starting plants from seed, you might also be wondering how to harvest chamomile seeds.

To do this, you’ll need to leave the flowers on your plants until they dry on the stem. Then, you can snip them off and spread them out on a wire rack to finish drying. Keep them in a warm spot out of direct sunlight.

Once the flower heads are dry all the way through, rub the heads over a bowl to collect the seeds. The seeds are very tiny, so you may need to use a mesh strainer to separate them from the chaff.

Chamomile seeds can be stored in a cool, dry spot and will remain viable for 3-4 years.

Tip: German chamomile reseeds itself often. If you don’t want to collect seeds, let them fall to the ground and transplant the seedlings later. On the other hand, if you don’t want to be overrun by chamomile, be sure to clip off the flower heads before seeds fall.

A small bowl of dry chamomile flowers on a wood surface next to fresh chamomile flowers

Drying and Storing Chamomile Flowers

Both fresh and dry chamomile flowers can be used to make tea, but the dry ones tend to be stronger and can be stored long-term.

If you have a large chamomile harvest, it’s very simple to dry the extras.

First, sift through your flowers, looking for any that may be damaged (discard these ones). You can also gently wash the blossoms to get rid of dirt and insects, although some gardeners don’t because it can make them too wet to dry properly.

If you did wash your flowers, pat them dry after draining them to get rid of as much excess water as possible. You can also spin them gently in a small salad spinner.

If you live in a dryer climate, you can air dry chamomile blossoms.

Text "Want to finally keep your essential oil notes and recipes organized? Discover this must-have essential oil planner! Click here to learn more" with a preview of four essential oil planner pages.

If you decide to check out the essential oil planner linked above, you’ll be taken to a page on my printables blog. I don’t want you confused and wondering what happened to the gardening blog you were reading when you see the url!

How to air dry chamomile flowers

Spread out the chamomile blossoms in a single layer on something like a mesh screen (nothing with large holes because the flowers shrink as they dry and will fall through).

Let them air dry in a warm spot out of direct sunlight. If there isn’t good air circulation, run a fan occasionally to improve that.

Chamomile typically takes about 1-2 weeks to dry fully and can then be stored in airtight containers away from heat, light, and moisture.

How to dehydrate chamomile blossoms

If you live somewhere humid (I do), you’ll want to use a dehydrator to ensure your chamomile dries instead of mildews.

Spread your flowers in a single layer on your dehydrator racks and dry on the lowest setting. It can take anywhere from 12-24 hours for flowers to dry fully, depending on your flowers, the weather, and your dehydrator. Around 18 hours seems typical for dehydrating chamomile flowers for me.

Your flowers can be placed more closely than in the photo below. Just make sure the flowers aren’t all bunched up on top of each other and you’ll be okay.

White chamomile flowers on a clear dehydrator tray that's resting on a light blue surface.

If you don’t have a food dehydrator yet, I recommend this newer Presto! model for dehydrating herbs and flowers. It features trays that flip so you can store them in a much shorter stack. This is a huge improvement over the older model my family used for 20+ years – the newer version takes much, much less space in the pantry. It also has a timer that tells you how long the dehydrator has been running.

Sale
Presto 06301 Dehydro Digital Electric Food Dehydrator
Presto 06301 Dehydro Digital Electric Food Dehydrator
  • Six-tray system for dehydrating foods at a fraction of the cost of commercially dried foods with no additives or preservatives.
  • Makes jerky from meat, poultry, and seafood includes sample packets of jerky spice and cure
  • Digital thermostat and timer for precise drying time and temperature choose drying temperatures from 90 to 165 degree f
Check current price

How to store chamomile flowers

Like all herbs, chamomile stores best in a cool, dark, air tight container. Glass jars are perfect when you store them in a cool cabinet or corner of your pantry. Of course, you can also use your favorite tea tin!

If you have a large harvest, keep it as fresh as possible by sealing most of your chamomile away and only keeping a portion of it available for regular use. This allows most of your flowers to stay safely sealed up instead of constantly exposing them to air and humidity every time you open your jar.

I seal most of my dry herbs away in jars and use the vacuum sealer attachment for my FoodSaver to seal the jar. I only keep a small portion in my “everyday” use jar.

FoodSaver FM2435 Vacuum Sealer Machine with Bonus Handheld Vacuum Sealer...
FoodSaver FM2435 Vacuum Sealer Machine with Bonus Handheld Vacuum Sealer...
  • Stretch your dollar: Meat preserved with the foodsaver system in the freezer can last upto 3 years and still taste fresh, flavorful, and freezer-burn...
  • Built-in roll storage & cutter: Create custom-sized bags without using scissors; Led light indicators then guide you through the vacuum sealing...
  • Even more consistent sealing: guaranteed to reach an optimal vacuum level and perform an airtight seal for upto 60 consecutive seals before needing to...
Check current price

Simple Chamomile Tea Recipe

Now that you know how to harvest chamomile, you can enjoy it in a freshly made tea!

Here’s a simple, quick recipe:

  • 2-3 teaspoons dried chamomile OR 6-8 teaspoons fresh chamomile
  • 8-10 ounces hot water
  1. Add the chamomile flowers to a mug, glass jar, or other heat-proof container.
  2. Pour the hot water over the herbs and cover.
  3. Steep for 2-5 minutes before straining out the chamomile. (It will become more bitter the longer it steeps.)
  4. Enjoy! Add honey or another sweetener if desired.
A top down view of a cup of chamomile tea. The tea is in a white mug with a teal knitted mug cozy.

Tip: Chamomile is great on its own but can also be combined with other herbs. Try it with mint for an upset stomach or headache, lemon balm for stress, or lemon and a tiny bit of lavender for sleep.

Master Gardener Gifts You'll Find Me In My Office Gardener Coffee Cup 15-oz...
Master Gardener Gifts You'll Find Me In My Office Gardener Coffee Cup 15-oz...
  • Gardener coffee mugs make excellent gardener presents for birthdays, Christmas, and more.
  • Size: This larger 15 ounce white ceramic coffee mug also makes a great tea cup with its large, easy to grip C-handle
  • Features: The imprinted design will display on both sides of the mug as pictured, and will stop approximately 1 inch from both sides of C-handle
Check current price

Enjoying Homegrown Herbal Tea

Being able to enjoy the sweet, floral taste of chamomile grown in your own garden is a real treat! It’s also fun seeing the bright, sunshiny flowers bloom each summer, and you may want to leave some alone for the bees.

Make the most of your fresh harvest all summer long, and remember to dry some chamomile for later. That way, you can enjoy the summer blossoms even in the middle of winter.

Herb Growing Guides

There are many herb growing guides here on Together Time Family.

Individual herbs all have their own light, soil, temperature, and water requirements. Discover what your favorite herbs need to thrive so you can enjoy a bountiful, healthy harvest.

Planting Herbs Together 

Companion planting herbs can save you space and increase your yields - if you plant correct. Discover this guide to planting herbs together and basic requirements for many popular herbs.

How to Plant & Grow Lemon Balm

How to Harvest Parsley (without killing the plant)

Discover how to harvest parsley without killing the plant and how to keep your parsley plant healthy and thriving.

How to Harvest Thyme

Discover how to plant, grow, and harvest thyme.

How to Harvest Basil

One basil plant can provide you with bountiful harvests all season long if you know how to grow and harvest basil the correct way.

How to Plant and Grow Dill

Learn how to plant and grow will, plus tips for dealing with dill pest and problems.

How to Harvest Dill

Discover how to harvest and preserve your dill for delicious homemade pickles, fish dishes, and more.

How to Harvest Mint (and what to do with lots of mint)

Discover how to harvest mint and what to do with your abundant mint harvests.

How to Harvest Rosemary (without killing the plant)

How to Plant and Grow Cilantro

Cilantro is easy to plant and grow...if you plant it at the right time.

Text "how to pick and dry chamomile flowers for delicious homegrown tea" above an image of a woman's hands picking chamomile
Natasha

Natasha Garcia-Lopez is an avoid home-gardener and proud owner of 88 acres of land in rural West Virginia. She was a member of the Association for Living History Farms and Agricultural Museums for many years and is currently enrolled in the Oregon State University Master Gardner Short Course program so she can better assist you with your gardening questions.She holds a certificate in natural skincare from the School of Natural Skincare.

Filed Under: Harvesting and Preserving

Previous Post: « Growing Pumpkins – How to Plant & Grow Pumpkins Successfully
Next Post: Best Garden Trowels for Digging, Transplanting, and Weeding »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Yvette

    September 3, 2021 at 12:30 pm

    Chamomile tea is my family’s favorite tea as well as peppermint! I cant wait to grow my tea garden! Thank you so much for your help!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Hi! We’re Angel and Natasha – welcome to Together Time Family!

Join us for family-friendly gardening tips so you can garden with your kids. Discover more about us.

Footer

Together Time Family is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Please see our full Disclaimer & Disclosure page for more information. View our Privacy Policy here.

Copyright © 2022 Together Time Family on the Foodie Pro Theme

109 shares