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Chamomile companion plants include plants that will make your Chamomile look more attractive and help it grow just the right way. Chamomile plants of the Asteraceae family grow in full sun and thrive with the right kind of companions, and in case you are wondering, there are bad companion plants for Chamomile too!
We have gathered some plants that pair well with Chamomile as they share the same growing requirements, have harmful insect-repelling properties, and will make your space look fresh.
Continue reading to know more about these plants and grow Chamomile like never before.
“Implementing companion planting can lead to biodiversity, pest control, and recycling of nutrients.”UC Davis Small Farm Program
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9 Fresh and Attractive Chamomile Companion Plants
Chamomile companion plants are plants that will help you grow Chamomile in the best way possible. The plants chosen have different shapes and sizes to complement your chamomiles.
1. Basil
Basil, also known as Sweet Basil, belongs to the Mint family and is a native plant of Central Africa and Southeast Asia. It is widely grown everywhere because of its aromatic foliage. It is an annual that needs to be planted every spring and has an increased oil production when planted as a chamomile companion.
– Growing Season
Basil loves to grow in warm and sunny weather conditions. Its bloom time starts in June and lasts till frost, and the best time to plant Basil is after two weeks after the last frost.
It reaches maturity within a matter of six weeks. The tallest and widest it can get is between 18 to 24 inches.
– Specific Needs
It loves to grow in full sun and rich soil with a pH ranging from acidic to alkaline. Water the plant daily and use a mulch to lock the moisture in the soil. Growing Basil from cuttings takes half the time as growing from seeds. Place the cutting in water and make sure that no leaves are submerged in it.
2. Lavender
Can I plant Lavender and Chamomile together must be a burning question in your mind right now… Well, the answer is yes! Lavender thrives in the presence of Chamomile that wards off aphids and many types of flies that hinder the development of Lavender.
Lavender is a herbaceous perennial that belongs to the Lamiaceae family and is a native plant of Europe. It has grayish-green leaves with erect flower spikes and a compact shrub appearance.
Furthermore, adding Lavender to your chamomile tea is a great remedy for various health problems like indigestion.
– Growing Season
Lavender grows best when planted in spring, right after the soil warms up and the danger of frost has passed. It blooms with beautiful and fresh flowers around summertime. The plant blooms in the first year, but it requires three years to fully mature. It reaches a height of 2 to 3 feet and a width of 2 to 4 feet when it fully develops.
– Specific Needs
Lavender loves to grow in full sun and well-draining soil with an alkaline pH. It needs to be watered regularly in the initial growth process.
The best method to propagate Lavender is through softwood or hardwood cuttings. Add the seed-starter mix to a pot and moisten it with water. Add the cuttings to the pot and cover it with plastic. Make sure to place the pot somewhere where there is ample sunlight.
3. Bok Choy
Also known as Chinese Cabbage, Bok Choy belongs to the family of Chinese Brassicas and is one of the chamomile companion vegetables.The plant has an unbowed head with leaves flaring outwards and stalks as white and non-stringy like Celery. It is a native plant of China and grows well in size and flavor when planted with Chamomile.
– Growing Season
Sow Bok Choy in spring and late summer, so it is ready to harvest by fall. Boy Choy has a fast growth rate with a height of 6 to 24 inches and can spread up to 6 to 18 inches.
– Specific Needs
It loves to grow in well-drained, rich soil with a slightly acidic pH and full sun, but it can also tolerate part-shade. Avoid watering the plant to the extent that the soil becomes soggy.
The simplest way to propagate Bok Choy is to soak its scraps in water in a pot or jar and place the pot near the windowsill.
You will notice that the scaps are turning yellow, which may seem like it’s dying, which is a sign that you are growing it right. The yellow color turns to a beautiful green within a couple of weeks, and you will soon see leaves sprouting from the cut-off base.
4. Cabbage
Cabbage is a biennial that belongs to the Brassicaceae family and is native to Europe.
It is a leafy green vegetable that comes in a full head. Chamomile wards off the cabbage moths when planted with Cabbage and enhances its flavor by releasing certain chemicals.
– Growing Season
Plant cabbage indoors in spring for a summer harvest. However, if you want a fall crop, plant the seeds in July directly in the garden. Cabbage has a fast growth rate. Once it matures, you will have a plant one to 2 feet tall and the same wide.
– Specific Needs
It loves to grow in full sun, loamy, and well-drained soil with a neutral to acidic pH. Regular watering, just enough to make the soil moist, is necessary to avoid a bitter taste.
Even though Cabbage is a biennial, most people grow it as an annual, resulting in no seeds for propagating. The best way to propagate in such circumstances is to place its scraps in a shallow dish containing water.
Place the dish in direct sunlight and change the water every few days. It won’t be long before you see new leaves, after which you can plant them in your garden.
5. Parsley
Parsley is a biennial grown as an annual herb belonging to the Apiaceae family and is native to Europe. It has lacy, multi-branched, dark-green foliage making it one of the best german chamomile companion plants. They, too, are multi-branched, adding volume to your space, and have proven health benefits.
Now you may be wondering whether I can plant Chamomile with parsley? The answer is yes! Planting chamomile with parsley attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies to ward off harmful pests, making it a great addition to your garden.
– Growing Season
The best time to grow parsley is three to four weeks prior to the last spring frost. Parsley’s slow growth rate takes sixty to ninety days to fully mature. It grows to be 9 to 12 inches tall and wide.
– Specific Needs
Parsley loves to grow in full sun and loamy, well-drained soil with an acidic to neutral pH. It does not need regular watering and can survive with 1 to 2 inches of water per week.
The easiest way to propagate parsley is through seeds, just like Chamomile grows quickly through chamomile seeds. Before planting, soak your seeds in lukewarm water for twenty-four hours to speed up the process.
6. Echinacea
Echinacea is a perennial herb that belongs to the Asteraceae family and is native to the mid-western region of North America. Its tall stems bear single pink or purple flowers with a brown or purple cone center and will look great with your roman Chamomile.
Can you plant Chamomile and Echinacea together? Yes, you can! Together with the chamomile plant, Echinacea, from your herb garden, it attracts pollinators to your garden bed.
– Growing Season
The best season to plant Echinacea is early spring, after the final frost so that it can bloom around summer. Echinacea has a slow growth rate.
It takes three to four weeks for the seeds to germinate; however, it may take approximately two years for the plant to bloom. Once the plant matures, it can reach a height of 2 to 5 feet and a width of 1 to 2 feet.
– Specific Needs
Echinacea prefers to grow in well-drained soil under full to partial sun conditions. Water it daily in the initial days of its planting and transition to 1 inch per week.
An easy and simple way of propagating Echinacea is through cuttings. After about six weeks of planting, roots are capable enough to be planted in flower pots. Allow the plant to grow for one more week before trimming off the shoot tips. It is necessary to keep the plant safe from frost, after which you can plant them outdoors in the sun.
7. Tomato
Tomatoes are perennials, but most people grow them as annuals. The flowering plant is a member of the Solanaceae family and is native to South America. It has textured, flavorful, and edible leaves.
Chamomile and tomatoes make great companion plants. Chamomile improves tomato plants’ overall health, boosts their growth, and attracts pollinators that increase their yield. Tomatoes also help in lowering cholesterol levels and have anti-cancer properties.
– Growing Season
Tomatoes require plenty of sunlight to grow and thrive. Plants sown in March and April are ready to harvest between July and September. Tomatoes have a slow growth rate, and it takes 60 to more than 100 days to harvest tomatoes.
– Specific Needs
Tomatoes prefer to grow in full sun and well-drained soil with a slightly acidic pH. They need fertilizer soon after planting and right before bearing fruit.
The easiest way to propagate tomatoes is through seeds, but it can be very time-consuming. Propagate through cuttings, and you will have a yield in no time.
8. Apple Trees
Apples belong to the Rosaceae family and are native to Central Asia. Apple trees have ovate, dark green leaves with an asymmetrical base.
Fruit trees like Apple trees are less prone to fungal infections when planted near Chamomile, thereby adding to the list of chamomile benefits.
– Growing Season
The best season to plant apple trees is early spring. Apples grow in summer, and by fall, they are fully ripe. Apple trees have a fairly slow growth rate. They grow 12 to 18 inches per year.
– Specific Needs
Apple trees grow best in full sun and well-drained soil with an acidic to neutral pH. Moreover, fertilizer needs to be added only once a year.
Budding or grafting is commonly used to propagate apple trees. The cuttings are taken in January and then refrigerated to be grated in the early spring.
9. Strawberries
Strawberries belong to the family of Rosaceae and are native to North America. The plant’s leaves have saw-like edges.
Plant chamomile with strawberries to attract beneficial insects for pollination, eventually producing a good strawberry yield. Basil and Lavender are mutual chamomile and strawberry companion plants. Add them to your strawberry and chamomile combination for the perfect scent.
– Growing Season
The best season to plant strawberries is early spring, March or April, after the danger of frost has passed.
The seedlings have a slow growth rate, growing 12 inches every six months. But once it is fully established, it grows 12 inches every two months. .
– Specific Needs
Strawberries require full sun and loamy- well-drained soil with rich organic matter. They need enough water only to keep the soil moist.
The easiest and quickest method to propagate strawberries is through runners. Most varieties produce runners naturally, and if you get your hands on the one that doesn’t, a simple seeding method will do just fine too
Conclusion
Chamomile plants are sun-lovers that grow well with plants that have similar survival requirements. These plants help Chamomile grow and look beautiful and healthy.
Whichever plant you choose for companion planting, always remember the following points from the article above.
- Parsley makes a great companion choice to repel harmful insects.
- An excellent way of attracting pollinators and increasing yield is planting tomatoes with Chamomile.
- When planted with Chamomile, Apple trees are less prone to fungal infections and boost chamomile growth.
After getting to know the significance of these plants, which of them would you like to go with?
References
- Dariusz Dziki, Waleed H. Hassoon, Beata Biernacka and Urszula Gawlik-Dziki. (8 August 2022). Dried and Powdered Leaves of Parsley as a Functional Additive to Wheat Bread. MPDI.
Retrieved from https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/15/7930/pdf - (August 1, 2018). Vegetable of the month: Tomatoes. Harvard Health Publishing.
Retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/vegetable-of-the-month-tomatoes - (April 1, 2020). Toxic beauty. Harvard Health Publishing.
Retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/womens-health/toxic-beauty
