GROWING GUIDE: German Chamomile

Our drinks-makers guide to growing German chamomile from Dunoon Goes POP, a social enterprise with a focus on telling heritage stories through drinks making.

About Chamomile

Gaelic name: Lubh- leighis

Common name: German chamomile

Botanical name: Matricaria chamomilla

Used for making teas, medicines and skin products.

Parts used for drinks: flowerheads

HOW TO PLANT

• Prepare for planting: Find a sunny spot to grow your chamomile in a pot or directly in well-draining garden soil.

• Plant the chamomile: Either sprinkle your seeds over the surface of the soil or plant your new plant.

• Water it in: Give your plant a big drink of water. If growing from seed, water the soil before sprinkling the seeds.

HOW TO GROW

• Water in dry spells: If growing in a pot or planter, check the soil during hot or dry weather and water if it’s dry.

• Regularly pick the flowers: To keep the plant producing more

  flowers, pick them regularly.

• Don't fuss over it: Chamomile is toughand will grow in tricky spots and soils that aren’t too nutritious.

HOW TO HARVEST

• Harvest the flowers: Use your bare hands like a comb to pull off the flower heads. Best harvested when young and freshly opened.

• Brew a cuppa: A small handful of flower heads will brew a pot of relaxing tea. Add a slice of lemon or a leaf of mint for added zing!

• Dry the flowers: Spread the flowers over a mesh rack or some newspaper or

  kitchen roll to dry. Spread out to allow air to flow around each flower head. Once very dry, store in a sterilised airtight container for using later.

OUR TOP TIP: At the end of summer, leave some flowers to turn to seed. Sprinkle the seeds around your garden to come back next year.

This growers guide is inspired by our drinks-makers garden at the Top Shop, the corner of McArthur Street and Alexander Street, Dunoon.

What's growing at the Top Shop?

Drinks-making plants: 

• rhubarb 

• blackcurrant 

• cornflowers

• cola plant

• oregano

• lemon balm

• primrose

• pot marigolds 

• borage

• blackcurrant sage 

• sage and more ... 

For the colour and for the bees, birds, butterflies and moths: 

• annual flowers like cosmos and cerinthe

• bellflowers, potentillas

• polyanthus

• astrantia

• rudbeckia.   

Colour on the corner

At the Top Shop, on the corner of McArthur Street and Alexander Street, our mini drinks-makers garden began in 2024. Packed with plants that can be used to make teas, soft drinks syrups and other drinks, we also grow flowers to add colour to the corner and provide food for our pollinator friends. 

“I’ve lived here for 60 years and never seen it looking good like this,” said one happy resident as they passed by the garden.  

“I love all the colourful flowers,” said another. 

A partnership approach 

Our community engagement work around the Valrose area is a partnership with Dunoon Community Development Trust and together we’re running several activities, including this plant giveaway. We’re also pleased that this project is supported by Development Trusts Association Scotland and Argyll Community Housing Association. 

We initially built the garden thanks to National Lottery players and the National Lottery Community Fund. Thanks also to Dunoon Community Development Trust for their in kind support and to Ronnie at the Top Shop for his community and gardening spirit.