# Types of Chamomile Plants in California
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German Chamomile
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Herbal teas are made from both the bushy German, or blue, chamomile and its ground cover cousin Roman chamomile. German chamomile is known by two botanical names: Matricaria recutita and Matricaria chamomilla. Its blue oil contains azulen, which is, according to the WebMD website, a compound that fights the inflammation that leads to headaches, stomachaches and eye problems.
Mountain Valley Growers of California notes that German chamomile is an annual that can grow from 16 inches to 2 feet tall and does well in containers as well as the ground.
Roman Chamomile
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Roman chamomile, or Chamaemelum nobile, is also used to make medicinal tea. Due to its short height of 6 to 12 inches, this sun-loving perennial is sometimes called lawn chamomile. It has an pleasing apple-pineapple scent and grows well in a rock garden or as a border planting as well as a ground cover. Fine Gardening notes that dense, compact growth can be promoted through regular trimming. Both common Roman chamomile and the double blossom Flore pleno variety can be found growing in the botanical gardens at the University of California at Berkeley.
Scentless Chamomile and Mayweed
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Some chamomile species are viewed as pests. The University of Nevada cites corn or scentless chamomile (Anthemis arvensis) as a "noxious weed" in Colorado and says that, as of 2010, it has spread throughout 37 states, including California. It is related to mayweed (Anthemis cotula), which exudes an unpleasant odor when crushed. The University of California's Statewide Integrated Pest Management System identifies as mayweed and scentless chamomile as invasive species.
Pineapple Weed
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Another sometimes unwelcome chamomile species found growing wild in California is pineapple weed (Matricaria discoidea, Matricaria matricarioidies or Chamomila itsuaveolens). It thrives in "disturbed" habitats such as the dirt roads of California's Henry W. Coe State Park. The cone-shaped flower head of this species is not surrounded by a ray of white petals. Instead, it looks like a tiny pineapple. Oregon State University notes that when its stems are crushed, the plant emits a sweet smell.
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