Is this plant the same as chamomile?

No, it is often confused with chamomile but lacks the characteristic scent and medicinal properties.

You can manage it by pulling it before it sets seed or by mowing it regularly.

Plant guide

Scentless Mayweed.

Tripleurospermum inodorum

Pronounced trip-lew-roh-SPER-mum in-oh-DOR-um

Also known as False Chamomile, False Mayweed, Inland Scentless Mayweed, Scentless Chamomile, Scentless False Mayweed, Scentless Mayweed

This charming wildflower is a common sight in fields and along roadsides. It produces lovely daisy like flowers that brighten up any sunny spot. It is a hardy plant that handles various soil conditions quite well.

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Annual or short lived perennial
Light: Full sun
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 5 to 10 days
Mature size: 24 to 36 inches
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 3 to 9
Bloom time: Late spring to early autumn

Care

Plant this in a spot that gets plenty of sunshine throughout the day. Keep an eye out for aphids or mildew if the air circulation is poor. It is a prolific self seeder so deadhead if you want to limit its spread.

Watering: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Feeding: Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer once during the active growing season.
Pruning: Deadhead spent blooms regularly to encourage more flowers and prevent unwanted seeding.
Repotting: If growing in a container, move to a larger pot once the roots begin to circle the bottom.
Soil: Well draining loamy soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.5
Temperature: -20 to 30°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Lifespan: Annual or short-lived perennial.
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
Water draining through the pot too quickly.

Safety

People: The plant is generally considered non-toxic but can cause contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals.
Children: Keep children from handling the plant as the sap can cause mild skin irritation.
Contact allergens: The foliage may cause skin irritation or rashes upon direct contact.
Airborne allergens: The pollen can trigger hay fever symptoms in sensitive people during the peak bloom period.
Edibility: While often confused with true chamomile, this plant is not typically consumed and may cause digestive upset.

How to identify it

Daisy like white ray florets
Yellow central disc florets
Finely divided feathery leaves
Smooth hairless stems
Lack of strong scent

Height: 0.2 to 0.6m
Spread: 0.15 to 0.4m
Leaves: green, deciduous
Flowers: white, yellow, 2 to 4cm

Problems to watch for

Powdery mildew · A white fungal growth appears on leaves during periods of high humidity and poor airflow.

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed
When to plant: spring, autumn
Overwintering: In colder climates, the plant typically dies back to the ground. You can leave the dried stems for winter interest or clear them away in early spring.
In containers: It grows well in containers but requires a pot at least 20 centimeters deep to accommodate its root system.

Seed

1. Collect seeds from dried flower heads in late summer.
2. Sow seeds directly onto prepared soil in autumn or early spring.
3. Lightly cover with soil as they need some light to germinate.
4. Keep the area moist until seedlings establish.

Plant this in sunny, open areas where you want to encourage a naturalistic meadow look.

Grows well with

Cornflower · They share similar growing requirements and create a classic meadow aesthetic.
Common Poppy · These plants naturally occur together in disturbed agricultural fields.

Similar species

German Chamomile · It is often mistaken for this species but has a distinct fruity scent.
Scented Mayweed · It shares a similar growth habit but has cone-shaped flower heads without white petals.

Science

Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Tripleurospermum
Order: Asterales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Europe and temperate Asia.
Conservation: It is a common weed and is not of conservation concern.

It thrives in disturbed soils and open areas where it can outcompete other annuals for light.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: bees, butterflies, beetles
Uses: wildflower meadows, pollinator gardens, disturbed site restoration

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 8/9
Temperature: 5/9
Moisture: 5/9
Nutrients: 6/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is this plant the same as chamomile?: No, it is often confused with chamomile but lacks the characteristic scent and medicinal properties.
How do I control it?: You can manage it by pulling it before it sets seed or by mowing it regularly.

Where the name comes from

The name Tripleurospermum refers to the three-ribbed seeds, while inodorum means scentless.

Good to know

It is a prolific self-seeder that can quickly colonize bare soil.
It is frequently found growing in fields and along roadsides.
The flowers look very similar to those of Matricaria chamomilla.

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This guide was generated with AI on October 19, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.