German (Annual) Chamomile
This is the common chamomile in tea blends and remedies. Easy and fast, the 1' plants produce sheets of little daisy-like flowers with a wonderful smell and flavor. Clip the flowers for teas several times during the season--they will rebloom. The flowers alone are usually harvested, using a raking motion with the fingers or a "blueberry rake" made of wire. Traditionally used as a calming tea, anti-inflammatory, and soothing digestive aid. Plant the little seeds in spring. Good temporary groundcover or edging for vegetable, flower and herb beds. 300 seeds
Note: The reason Peter Rabbit hated the chamomile tea his mom gave him in the storywas that she harvested the leaves too--they are bitter. Packaged chamomile tea in Europe usually contains the whole plant and is quite bitter. It is used as a medicinal and a bitter pick-me-up like coffee. If you want a sweet flavor, harvest the flowers alone.