The dyer's chamomile is originally a beautiful wild perennial. But it can also enrich the garden bed or the balcony with its bright yellow flowers.
The dyer's chamomile or Anthemis tinctoria is a bright yellow perennial that grows excellently in the garden as well as on the balcony and terrace. Due to the intense color of the flowers, it is particularly popular with bees and serves as an important source of food. After sowing in March, the daisy family begins to bloom in June. The flowering period lasts until around September.
Depending on the site conditions, which should be sunny to semi-shady, the perennials reach a height of 60 to a maximum of 80 cm. Since the dyer's dog chamomile is perennial, it unfolds anew every year after sowing. Like other perennials, dyer's chamomile adapts quickly to local conditions.
Origin of dyer's chamomile
Dyer's chamomile has become increasingly popular as a garden perennial in recent years. Since it is a wild perennial native to Germany, it copes well with the local climatic conditions and soil composition. The dyer's chamomile belongs to the dog chamomile. This genus includes around 100 other perennial species, many of which are known in Germany. Field and Ruthenian dog chamomile are among the most well-known genera.
| Dyer's Chamomile (Anthemis tinctoria) | |
|---|---|
| Growth: | bushy, upright, clump-forming, sometimes slightly weak |
| Growth: | 30 - 60 cm |
| Growth: | 45 - 50 cm |
| Usage: | Open land, steppe heath, stone structures, rocky steppes, embankments |
| Location: | Sun |
| Floor: | dry, well drained, sandy, mineral, stony |
Planting and caring for chamomile
The dyer's chamomile is willing to compromise when it comes to choosing a location
The dyer's chamomile is a fairly undemanding garden perennial with high adaptability. This is particularly evident in the choice of location. Changing soil conditions and climatic influences hardly affect the perennial and affect itDevelopment not worth mentioning.
The dyer's chamomile only reacts sensitively to moisture, which is why you should definitely avoid waterlogging. If the soil is permanently too moist, the dyer's chamomile forms more leaves than flowers. On the other hand, stony soils or locations with a high nitrogen content are ideal.
The dyer's chamomile can be planted in the garden and on the balcony. While it grows very well in the garden in gravel beds and is therefore particularly popular in rock gardens, Dwarf chamomile should be used on the balcony. This is a special form of this perennial, which, however, is ideal for flower boxes due to its compact growth. Furthermore, the Dwarf dyer's chamomile is a permanent bloomer. So it ensures intensive colors on the balcony for a long time.
| Dyer's Chamomile 'Dwarf-Form' (Anthemis tinctoria 'Dwarf-Form') | |
|---|---|
| Growth: | bushy, clumpy, dense |
| Growth: | 25 - 40 cm |
| Special Features: | yellow flowers, blooms all summer |
| Usage: | Beds, tubs, groups |
| Location: | Sun |
| Floor: | gravelly, sandy, poor in nutrients, dry, permeable |
Plant dye chamomile early
Early sowing is important so that the dyer's chamomile develops splendidly over the course of the year and reaches a pleasant height. Cultivation of the light germ should begin as early as March. At this time the seeds are still sown under glass so that the seeds are protected from outside influences as best as possible.
Sowing in August and September is easier. During this period, the seeds are sown directly in the open ground. To do this, rows about one centimeter deep must first be drawn in the selected beds or balcony boxes. The seeds are then distributed in these.
Tip: Since the dyer's chamomile is so popular with bees, bumblebees and butterflies, the seeds are often included in bee seed mixtures:
Dyer chamomile requires little care
The dyer's chamomile is a particularly easy-care perennial that takes little time and is easy to propagate by regular sowing, division or cuttings. Since it copes very well with dry soil, it is not necessary to water the dyer's chamomile regularly. In addition, regular fertilizing can be dispensed with. So that the dyer's chamomile gets through the winter well, isa pruning in September to ten centimeters is possible. This strengthens the plant and contributes to he althy growth, which will benefit the garden in the following year.
Tip: So that the dyer's chamomile survives the winter without damage, a location without the risk of waterlogging is important.
Use of dyer's chamomile…
… in the kitchen
Dyer's chamomile has been used in naturopathy for centuries. In the foreground are the bright yellow flowers, which can be consumed without hesitation. They are suitable for tea and other drinks, but can also be used to decorate food. Soaking the flowers in honey preserves them and gives them a pleasantly sweet taste. The young leaves of the dyer's chamomile can be used in herbal quark and other dips, for example.
… in naturopathy
In naturopathy, dyer's chamomile has proven itself in the treatment of menstrual cramps. The regular consumption of a dyer's chamomile tea also contributes to menstrual stimulation. If the flowers are freshly harvested and then crushed, they can be used as a wound dressing and stimulate healing.
… for coloring
Centuries ago, dyer's chamomile was used in Germany as a dye for wool and eggs. The yellow flowers were placed in water for several hours and then boiled. After the flowers have been in the simmering water on the stove for about half an hour, they remain in the water for about 12 hours before finally being drained. The wool can then be dyed in the water at a maximum of 70 degrees. A rest period of eight hours is advisable so that the wool absorbs the yellow well. Vinegar was used to seal the wool in the yarn.
Tip: The color obtained in this way can also be used to dye the eggs.