Dyer’s chamomile
Cota tinctoria
An ornamental plant, planted March to October, or sown March to July.
In September: cut back the dyer’s chamomile. It can be planted out now.
Add dyer’s chamomile to my plot
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Dyer’s chamomile, month by month
Bar: the usual months. Sprout: this month.
| Sowing, planting or job | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | 2027Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow under cover. | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none |
| Sow outdoors. | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual | none |
| Plant out. | usual | usual | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none |
| Plant a pot-grown dyer’s chamomile. | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual |
| Lift and divide the dyer’s chamomile. | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none |
| Cut the dyer’s chamomile stems back by a third to a half. | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | none | none |
| Deadhead the dyer’s chamomile. | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual | usual |
| Cut back the dyer’s chamomile. | usual | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none |
What to do, and when
The usual months for a UK garden. Your own plan gives the week.
Sowing and planting
Sow under cover March to May, on the surface. Moderate sources: RHS and RP Seeds.
Sow outdoors May to July, on the surface, 5cm apart. Moderate source: Kings Seeds. Weaker source for the depth: Select Seeds.
Plant out September to October, 30cm apart. Moderate source: Kings Seeds.
Plant a pot-grown dyer’s chamomile March to August. Moderate source: Hayloft.
Lift and divide the dyer’s chamomile
Every 3 years, not every year.
Usually March to May. Strong source: RHS.
Cut the dyer’s chamomile stems back by a third to a half
Gardeners call this the Chelsea chop.
Usually May to June. Strong source: RHS.
Deadhead the dyer’s chamomile
Usually May to August. Moderate source: Hayloft.
Cut back the dyer’s chamomile
Cut it back hard, even if still flowering; strong new base growth survives winter better.
Usually September. Moderate source: Hayloft.
What the source words mean
Strong: the RHS page for this plant is among them.Moderate: another trusted UK source, or the RHS on its group.Weaker: a blog, a forum, a small website or a page from outside the UK. Treat it as a guide.
Add dyer’s chamomile to my plot
Every line above names the page it comes from. Where we found no good source for a job, we left it out. Where the name “Dyer’s chamomile” comes from.