Dyer Chamomile - Cota tinctoria

Dyer Chamomile – traditional wild perennial with bright yellow blooms. 

Perennial, short‑lived dye and aromatic plant with intensely golden‑yellow blooms and a chamomile‑like scent. Grows robustly, tolerates heat and drought, and thrives in open ground, containers and naturalistic gardens. Germinates reliably and self‑seeds in suitable locations. Ideal for home use, natural dyeing and ecological herb cultivation.

  Origin & History

Dyer’s chamomile is a wild plant native to Europe, the Mediterranean region and Western Asia. It belongs to the Asteraceae family (subfamily Asteroideae) and the genus Cota (formerly Anthemis). It has been valued for centuries as an important dye plant. The species name tinctoria derives from the Latin tingere (“to dye”), referring to its traditional use for producing yellow textile dyes.

By the Middle Ages, it already played a notable role in monastic gardens and artisanal dyeing. Its flowers provided one of Europe’s most significant natural yellow dyes and were widely appreciated across many regions. Over the centuries, it remained a central element of traditional dye craft.

Characteristic features of the species include its bright golden‑yellow flower heads with yellow ray and disc florets. The leaves are finely divided, grey‑green and slightly hairy on the underside. Owing to its long history of use and its high content of dye compounds, it is still regarded as one of the most important European dye plants.

 Appearance & Characteristics

The plant is a perennial herb forming upright, branching stems with finely divided, grey‑green leaves. Its golden‑yellow flower heads sit in 2–4 cm capitula and release a mild, aromatic scent. It attracts numerous insects and is sufficiently hardy to maintain itself through self‑seeding.

Plant details:

• Height: Upright, 40–70 cm

• Form: Bushy, richly branched

• Leaves: Finely divided, grey‑green, underside slightly hairy

• Flowers: Golden yellow, 2–4 cm across

• Flavor: Mildly aromatic, chamomile‑like

 Usage & Cultivation Highlights

Dyer’s chamomile is ideal for dyeing wool, silk and cotton in vivid yellow tones. The flowers contain natural pigments that produce shades from pale yellow to golden yellow depending on the mordant. It is also used for aromatic herbal teas. Dried flower heads are excellent for dried arrangements, scent blends and decorative uses. As a bee plant, it attracts numerous pollinators and enriches naturalistic gardens. The flowers can also be used for scented herb cushions, potpourris and light aromatic applications in the kitchen and home apothecary. In ecological gardening it is valued for supporting beneficial insects and for providing structure and colour as a robust companion perennial in lean, sunny plantings.

Dyer’s chamomile grows reliably both in open ground and in containers. It prefers sunny sites and well‑drained soils that are lean to moderately fertile. It is heat‑ and drought‑tolerant, easy to care for and flowers over many weeks. The plants attract beneficial insects such as bees, hoverflies and butterflies, supporting ecological balance. Thanks to self‑seeding, it reappears annually in suitable locations. Cutting back after flowering encourages vigorous regrowth. With its strong adaptability to sandy, stony or nutrient‑poor soils, it remains vital even in dry summers. It is sturdy, wind‑tolerant and shows notable resilience to disease as long as the soil is well drained. In extensive plantings, prairie beds and naturalistic perennial mixes, it proves to be a long‑lived, colour‑rich structural plant that flowers reliably even under challenging conditions.

Compared with other chamomile species, dyer’s chamomile is the classic dye plant with bright golden‑yellow blooms – ideal for anyone seeking a low‑maintenance, perennial aromatic and dye plant with abundant flowers for pollinators.