Chamomile catching some sunlight.

Chamomile likes about six hours of direct sunlight a day. If you live in an area that gets super-hot during the day, then aim for a spot with morning sun and slight shade in the afternoon.

In regions where summer days aren’t blazingly hot, chamomile will tolerate a partly shaded area, as long as it gets its daily dose of direct sunlight. Chamomile is a good candidate for container gardening if you need to optimize your growing space. Plus, it’s easy for you to move it into the sun or shade as needed (don’t forget to put your planter on wheels!).

You can also grow your chamomile indoors if you like. You can use a broad range of lights—from basic fluorescent lights to specialized grow lights. Just make sure your plants get at least six hours of light for optimal growth.

Basic fluorescent lights need to be 2 to 4 inches from the top of your plants—you’ll want to be able to adjust the height of the lights as the plants grow. If you use high output or compact fluorescent lights, they’ll need to be about a foot above the plants. And if you use high intensity discharge lights, such as metal halide or high pressure sodium lights, those need to be 2 to 4 feet above your plants. If you’re going to do indoor growing, consider your available space before you invest in expensive grow lights.

And just as chamomile plants need sunlight, they also need some down time, so don’t leave your grow lights on 24/7. Give your plants at least an eight-hour break from the light.

How do you ensure that your chamomile gets the right amount of sunlight? Do you have tips for planting your chamomile in the right spot for proper amounts of sun and shade? Please tell us how you handle sunlight for your chamomile.