Can You Grow Chamomile And Lavender Together

Yes, you can grow chamomile and lavender together, and they make a wonderfully fragrant and resilient pairing in the garden.
 
If you’ve been asking whether you can grow chamomile and lavender together, the answer is a resounding yes, but only if you get the conditions right for both.
 
Growing chamomile and lavender together is not just possible, it’s actually a classic companion planting strategy that benefits both herbs.
 
When you grow chamomile and lavender together, you create a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant bed that attracts pollinators and repels certain pests.
 
In this post, we’ll explore why you can grow chamomile and lavender together, the best way to set up your shared bed, and the common pitfalls to avoid.
 
Let’s dig into this lovely herb partnership.
 

Why You Can Grow Chamomile and Lavender Together

The reason you can grow chamomile and lavender together comes down to their shared love for full sun and poor, well-draining soil.
 
Both plants are Mediterranean natives that thrive on neglect, so they won’t fight over resources if you plant them side by side.
 
When you grow chamomile and lavender together, the lavender’s woody upright structure gives the low-growing chamomile some gentle afternoon shade protection in hotter regions.
 
And in return, chamomile acts as a living mulch around lavender’s base, reducing moisture loss and suppressing weeds.
 
Let’s break down the exact reasons why this combo works so well.
 

1. They Share the Same Soil Preferences

Lavender absolutely hates wet feet, and chamomile is equally unhappy in soggy clay.
 
So if you grow chamomile and lavender together, you’ll need sandy or gritty soil with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5.
 
Both plants prefer lean soil, not rich compost, so you can plant them in the same bed without worrying about one getting too much fertilizer.
 
This shared preference is the number one reason you can grow chamomile and lavender together without one suffocating the other.
 

2. They Have Matching Sunlight Requirements

You can grow chamomile and lavender together because both demand at least six to eight full hours of direct sunlight each day.
 
If you place them in a shaded corner, lavender will become leggy and produce fewer flowers, while chamomile will flop over and rot.
 
In a sunny, open border, they both thrive, with lavender standing tall and chamomile spreading its feathery foliage low to the ground.
 
So when you grow chamomile and lavender together, position the bed in the brightest spot you have available.
 

3. They Compliment Each Other’s Growth Habits

Lavender is a woody perennial that grows slowly into a shrub, while chamomile can be either an annual (German) or a low-spreading perennial (Roman).
 
If you want to grow chamomile and lavender together, let the chamomile fill in the gaps around lavender’s base without crowding the crown.
 
This companion setup actually helps lavender because chamomile’s fine roots don’t compete aggressively for water.
 
The result is a dense, aromatic ground cover beneath lavender’s silver-green spikes, which looks lovely and keeps the soil cooler.
 

How to Successfully Grow Chamomile and Lavender Together

Knowing that you can grow chamomile and lavender together is one thing, but actually making it work requires a bit of planning.
 
Follow these simple steps to get the best out of this dynamic duo.
 

1. Choose the Right Chamomile Variety

If you’re planning to grow chamomile and lavender together, use Roman chamomile for a perennial mat or German chamomile for an annual burst.
 
Roman chamomile grows only a few inches tall and creeps along the soil, making it the perfect underplanting for lavender.
 
German chamomile is taller, reaching about two feet, so plant it behind lavender or to the side so it doesn’t shade the lavender’s lower leaves.
 
Either way, you can grow chamomile and lavender together as long as you give the chamomile enough room to spread without smothering the lavender.
 

2. Prepare a Raised Bed or Gritty Slope

The easiest way to grow chamomile and lavender together is in a raised bed with excellent drainage.
 
Mix in plenty of coarse sand or fine gravel to the top six inches of soil before planting.
 
Lavender’s roots go deep, while chamomile’s stay shallow, so there’s no root conflict when you grow them together in this environment.
 
If you’re gardening in heavy clay, skip the ground entirely and use pots or a rock garden setting instead.
 

3. Water Sparingly After Establishment

Once you get them settled, you can grow chamomile and lavender together with very little supplemental watering.
 
Water deeply once a week for the first month to help roots establish, then taper off completely.
 
Overwatering is the fastest way to kill this pairing, so let the soil dry out fully between drinks.
 
Both herbs prefer drought over drenching, and your lavender will reward you with more essential oils when kept on the dry side.
 

What to Avoid When You Grow Chamomile and Lavender Together

Even though you can grow chamomile and lavender together, a few common mistakes can ruin the partnership.
 
Here’s what to avoid.
 

1. Don’t Mulch With Organic Matter

Wood chips or compost mulch trap moisture around the stems, which causes both lavender and chamomile to rot.
 
Instead, use a layer of small pebbles or gravel if you want to suppress weeds when you grow chamomile and lavender together.
 
This keeps the soil surface dry and reflects heat upward, which both plants absolutely adore.
 

2. Don’t Fertilize with Rich Compost

Feeding these herbs with manure or nitrogen-rich fertilizer produces lush leaves but few flowers and weak stems.
 
Since you can grow chamomile and lavender together in lean soil, skip the fertilizer entirely for the best fragrance and bloom production.
 
A light topdressing of bone meal in spring is all the nutrition they need.
 

3. Don’t Plant Too Close Together

Give lavender at least 18 to 24 inches of space on every side, then let chamomile fill in around it.
 
If you grow chamomile and lavender together too tightly, air circulation drops, and fungal issues can appear.
 
Space them generously at planting time and let the chamomile naturally weave through the lavender’s lower branches over the season.
 

So, Can You Grow Chamomile and Lavender Together?

Yes, you can grow chamomile and lavender together, and they actually thrive when placed in the right spot.
 
You can grow chamomile and lavender together because they both crave full sun, dry feet, and poor, alkaline soil.
 
Whether you’re planting them in a sunny border, a raised bed, or large containers, these two herbs will happily coexist and even boost each other’s health.
 
So if you’re ready to enjoy a tea garden filled with calming scents, go ahead and plant chamomile and lavender together this season.
 
Just remember to keep the soil gritty, the sun blazing, and the watering can far away.
 
Your reward will be two gorgeous, fragrant herbs that ask for almost nothing and give you endless harvests.