ENVS 605

What is it?

Scentless Chamomile is a an annual, biennial, or short-lived perennial forb that is native to Europe. Seedlings emerge in spring and can produce a dense mat, out competing other species. Seeds and flowers are continually being formed. Each flower head can produce 300 seeds and a single plant can produce 300,000 seeds. The flowers are white in color, ¾ inches and are daisy like flowers that are solitary on each stem. Flowers have a yellow central disk surrounded by white petals. Leaves are alternate, fern-like, finely divided, and odorless when crushed. The stems can reach 6 inches to 3 feet tall and have numerous branches.

 

Why is it a problem?

Habitats for Scentless Chamomile include: hayfields, pastures, roadsides, stream banks, fence lines, and moist areas such as drainages. There are limited control options in an agricultural setting because more spray is needed that can be used with crops. In addition, blistering on livestock muzzles and irritation to mucous membranes are another agricultural concern.

 

Management techniques:

The key to effective control of Scentless Chamomile is prevention and preventing seed production.

• A combination of tillage, herbicide and competitive cropping can be very effective in managing Scentless Chamomile.

• The goal is to prevent seed production and crowd out infestations through crop or natural species competition.

• Frequent, shallow tillage can help exhaust the seed bank in non-native areas.

• Mowing is not an effective long-term control method due to the fact the plant will prostate, in the short-term mowing will assist with limiting seed production.

• Hand pulling can prevent spread into new areas and is effective on small infestations.

 

General Information on Scentless Chamomile:

Colorado State University Extension

• PDF created with background information and management techniques