Is pineapple weed edible?

Yes, the flowers and leaves are often steeped to make a fragrant, pineapple-scented tea.

Does it need full sun?

It prefers full sun but can tolerate light shade.

Plant guide

Pineappleweed.

Matricaria discoidea

Pronounced ma-tri-KA-ree-uh dis-KOY-dee-uh

Also known as Disc Mayweed, False Chamomile, Pineapple Weed, Pineappleweed, Rayless Chamomile, Rounded Chamomile

Pineappleweed is a charming little plant that smells just like pineapple when you crush its flowers. It is a hardy annual that often pops up in compacted soil along paths and driveways. You will love how its unique, cone shaped flower heads add a touch of wild beauty to your garden.

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Annual herb
Light: Full sun
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 3 to 7 days
Mature size: 10 inches
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 3 to 9
Bloom time: Late spring to early autumn

Care

This plant thrives in sunny spots with well draining soil. Keep an eye out for overcrowding, as it prefers a bit of space to spread its seeds. It is quite resilient and rarely needs extra attention once established.

Watering: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Feeding: This plant generally does not require supplemental fertilizer.
Pruning: Remove spent flower heads if you want to prevent it from self seeding.
Repotting: As an annual, it completes its life cycle in one season and does not typically need repotting.
Soil: Sandy or gravelly soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.5
Temperature: -20 to 30°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Lifespan: Annual, typically 1 year.
Fragrance: Strong
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots circling the bottom of the pot.
Stunted growth despite regular watering.

Safety

People: This plant is generally considered non-toxic and is frequently used in herbal infusions.
Children: There are no specific safety concerns for children, but always supervise young ones near wild plants.
Contact allergens: Some individuals may experience mild skin irritation from handling the foliage.
Airborne allergens: The pollen can trigger mild reactions in those with severe Asteraceae allergies.
Edibility: While often used in teas, ensure you have correctly identified the plant as it can resemble toxic lookalikes.

How to identify it

Cone shaped yellow green flower heads
Finely divided feathery green leaves
Distinct pineapple scent when crushed
Small stature usually under ten inches
Lacks white ray petals

Height: 0.05 to 0.3m
Spread: 0.1 to 0.25m
Leaves: bright green, deciduous
Flowers: yellow-green, 0.5 to 1cm

Problems to watch for

AphidsCommon
Powdery MildewCommon
Root RotUncommon
Slugs and SnailsUncommon

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed
When to plant: spring, autumn
Overwintering: As an annual, the plant will die back after setting seed; ensure seeds are left in the soil to germinate the following spring.
In containers: It grows well in small pots, though it prefers the open ground.

Direct Sowing

1. Collect seeds from dried flower heads in late summer.
2. Scatter seeds onto bare, disturbed soil in autumn or early spring.
3. Press seeds lightly into the soil without burying them deep.
4. Keep the area moist until germination occurs.

Plant this in areas with heavy foot traffic where its resilience can be appreciated.

Grows well with

Common Yarrow · They share similar environmental needs and attract beneficial pollinators.
White Clover · It acts as a low-growing companion that helps fix nitrogen in the soil.

Similar species

German Chamomile · It has similar foliage but features prominent white ray florets.

Science

Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Matricaria
Order: Asterales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Northeastern Asia and North America.
Conservation: This is a common, often weedy species that is not of conservation concern.

It is a pioneer species that colonizes disturbed, compacted soils where other plants struggle to grow.

Value to wildlife: nectar source, attracts beneficial insects
Pollinators: bees, butterflies, beetles
Uses: herbal tea, ground cover, pollinator garden

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 5/9
Light: 7/9
Temperature: 5/9
Moisture: 4/9
Nutrients: 3/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is pineapple weed edible?: Yes, the flowers and leaves are often steeped to make a fragrant, pineapple-scented tea.
Does it need full sun?: It prefers full sun but can tolerate light shade.

Where the name comes from

The genus name Matricaria comes from the Latin for womb, reflecting its historical use in treating female ailments, while discoidea refers to the disc-like flower heads lacking ray florets.

Good to know

It is an annual that readily reseeds itself in disturbed soil.
The plant is native to northeastern Asia and North America.
It thrives in compacted soil, often appearing along footpaths.

Keep your pineappleweed growing

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.