Pineapple Weed (Matricaria matricarioides)
At a glance
- Lifecycle
- Annual
- Exposure
- Full sun
Cultivation
Succeeds in any well-drained soil in a sunny position. The bruised or sun-warmed leaves emit the appealing odour of ripe apples.
Propagation
Seed - sow spring or late summer in situ. Germination should take place within 3 weeks.
Edible uses
Flower heads - raw or cooked. The dried flowers are used to make herb teas.
Medicinal uses
The flowering plant is antispasmodic, carminative, galactogogue, sedative, skin and vermifuge.
Material uses
The plant repels insects.
Habitat
Waysides and waste places, especially along tracks, paths and by trampled gateways.
Native range
N.E. Asia. An introduced and increasing weed in Britain.