When your bare feet walk upon the soft green expanse of a chamomile lawn in summer, its scent is released, filling the air with a sublime apple and hay smell. Dwarf forms of Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) spread their finely divided aromatic foliage into a dense emerald carpet that is luxurious and springy underfoot and – unlike grass – doesn't brown in drought. The herb-besotted Elizabethans loved a chamomile lawn and also grew it on garden seats. In all honesty, a chamomile lawn is, sadly, not suitable for a busy family garden that has a lot of foot traffic, but if you live alone and have the right conditions, it should thrive. Once established, laying upon it or treading barefoot over it, is a sensory joy that lifts summer days.
What are the benefits of chamomile?
Lawn chamomile is a low-growing form of Roman chamomile, which is used in aromatherapy. The sweet herbaceous scent has a warm, sunny, mellow smell that is said to soothe stress and anxiety. Neal's Yard puts chamomile in their baby products, and aromatherapist Teddy Fearnhamm describes it as 'a waterfall of comfort.'
Which chamomile plants to use at home
Chamaemelum nobile 'Treneague' is the main plant employed for growing a chamomile lawn. A non-flowering form of native Roman chamomile, the bright-green feathery foliage forms a dense scented carpet that only grows to 10cm tall and doesn't need cutting. It is named after the garden where it was first spotted, in Cornwall in the 1930s, but the owner had grown it from a cutting taken at Buckingham Palace, where its thought to have originated. Prior to its existence, chamomile lawns (including those at the palace) were grown with regular (taller) chamomile that required mowing. Specialist chamomile supplier Morehavens also offers an alternative rich-green dwarf form that can be a less fussy plant than 'Treneague' on tricky sites.
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How to find the best place to grow a chamomile lawn
Sun. A site in full sun is best. The house and gardens believed to have inspired Mary Wesley's novel The Camomile Lawn are situated on the sun-drenched south-facing coast of Cornwall.
Drainage. A well-drained soil is required – ideally, a sandy soil. In The Camomile Lawn, Mary Wesley describes the scented lawn as sloping down towards the cliffs. This is ideal, of course, because the gradient would prevent waterlogging.
Average rainfall. A chamomile lawn is not a great idea for a low-rainfall area, unless you're prepared to water it regularly.
pH. A neutral to acid soil is best.
What is the easiest way to enjoy lawn chamomile?
Admittedly, a chamomile lawn can be high maintenance because it requires hand weeding and sections often need replacing in spring. It's also not practical if you want to use the lawn a lot. Therefore, dotting plugs or sections of chamomile through a grass lawn is often the best way. This is how it is grown in the scented lawns of Buckingham Palace. The aroma will not be as intoxicating, but, every now and then, your feet will touch upon a section of chamomile, releasing delicious scent onto the air. Another fabulous option is to grow chamomile on a seat. One of the loveliest examples of this is the stone chamomile bench at Sissinghurst Castle Garden in Kent.
How to create a chamomile lawn
First, remove weeds. For an easy life, ensure all perennial weeds have been killed before you start planting. The eco-sound way to do this is to lay pieces of old carpet or pond liner over them to starve them of sunlight for a few weeks.
The, remove stones. Although chamomile enjoys drainage, it struggles with stony ground.
Spring planting is ideal. Plant in April or May for the best results. Stand on planks to prevent compacting the soil. Bare-root plants are easiest planted with a dibber. Plant 10 to 15 centimetres apart.
How to maintain a chamomile lawn
Keep off. Don't walk on the lawn at all for 3 to 4 months and, after that, reduce foot traffic to the bare minimum for the first year. In the second year, light foot traffic is beneficial for the plants.
Irrigation. Water a new lawn regularly until it's established, especially in hot, dry weather.
Trim. Regular trimming is not required, unless it's looking scruffy or overgrown, in which case trim in late summer.
Fill gaps. After a wet winter, lawn chamomile can sometimes develop bald patches. Fill these with fresh plants in spring.
Top dress. In spring, lightly dress with a mulch of compost around the plants to feed the soil.
