Anthemis arvensis – Corn Chamomile

In common with other mayweeds Corn Chamomile has a daisy like compound flower head and leaves that are finely divided, almost feathery in appearance. Flowering occurs from June to September. Identification of the various mayweeds is tricky and beyond the scope of this website but in brief Corn Chamomile has less feathery and hairier leaves than other common species in this group. The crushed leaves smell pleasantly of chamomile but the scent is not as strong as it is with Scented Mayweed. Unlike Scented Mayweed, a few chaffy scales can be found in the central yellow area of the flower.

Habitat Information

Older plant books may describe this cornfield annual as common; in reality it is rapidly becoming a scarce species and it is now absent from much of the north of the country. This relatively recent decline is probably due to its susceptibility to new forms of herbicides introduced since the sixties. Now found mainly on the borders of cereal crops on light calcareous soils and disturbed railway banks.

Growing Information

Corn Chamomile grows readily from seed sown on most soil types but it has a definite preference for light chalky or sandy soils. As with all cornfield annuals the area where it is sown needs to be disturbed each autumn if the species is to persist for more than one year. Seed can remain viable in the soil for several years.