Biology

The flowers of this perennial plant appear from June to August (2), and have been widely used for many years for a variety of purposes; they are known to have certain medicinal properties and are used as an antispasmodic and an anti-inflammatory, and the essential oil is used in aromatherapy as a soothing agent (5). Chamomile flowers have also been used to make herbal teas and beers, and are known to repel insects when both living and dried (5). Chamomile lawns have been popular in the past, and 'chamomile seats' were a common feature of Elizabethan herb gardens (3).