Mayweed, Scented

Information on Scented Mayweed

Common Name: Scented Mayweed
Scientific Name: Matricaria chamomilla
Irish Name: Fíogadán cumhra
Family Group: Asteraceae
Distribution: View Map (Courtesy of the BSBI)
Flowering Period


Click for list of all flowering by month
Scented Mayweed could sometimes be confused with:

Mayweed Sea, Mayweed, Scentless,

Scented Mayweed grows to a height of approximately 60cm. It bears daisy-type flowers in heads 20-30mm across, with yellow disc florets at centre and white ray florets which turn back soon after opening. The flowers are on long-stalked stems. Alternate, feathery, much divided leaves are on upright stems. The entire plant is aromatic. This plant is mostly found on disturbed, arable and waste ground. It is an occasional introduced annual which is found in a few locations in the East, South and in the Shannon estuary.

I first found this plant in Gibletstown, Co Wexford in 2012 and photographed it at that time.  

If you are satisfied you have correctly identified this plant, please submit your sighting to the National Biodiversity Data Centre

The receptacle at the centre of the flower-head is conical and hollow – break one open to check - and this differentiates it from Scentless Mayweed and Sea Mayweed.

Mayweed, Scented
Mayweed, Scented