Anthemis tinctoria E.C. Buxton - Marguerite

Anthemis tinctoria 'E.C Buxton', also known as False Chamomile or Dyer's Chamomile, is a perennial herbaceous plant with finely divided curly green foliage, from which emerges a multitude of small, pale-yellow daisies in spring and summer. Very hardy and easy to grow, it is ideal for rock gardens or sunny slopes.

Anthemis tinctoria belongs to the Asteraceae family. This plant is native to Europe and Asia Minor. 'E.C Buxton' is one of its cultivars, selected for its more lightly coloured inflorescences. It is a medium-sized plant, which can reach a height of 60 to 100cm (24 to 39in) if provided with support in rock gardens or slopes. Its growth is rapid. It will form clumps with a width of 50cm (20in). Flowering takes place from May to July. The flowers resemble small daisies, 2cm (1in) wide, with a dark yellow heart (disc of hermaphrodite florets). Around it radiate peripheral florets, which are ligulate, female, and a pale-yellow colour. The stems are often branched, with green bipinnatilobate leaves with a whitish and villous underside. The dark green, deciduous foliage is aromatic.

Anthemis thrive in full sun and are particularly sensitive to excess moisture in winter. Plant them in well-drained ordinary soil, which is slightly acidic, neutral, or strongly calcareous. These plants are not demanding in terms of soil quality. However, in heavy soil, their lifespan is shorter than in poor and dry soil. Their resistance to cold is greater when the soil is dry. Cutting back the stems to 20cm (8in) from the ground in early September promotes the reconstitution of clumps at the end of the season, and even a slight regrowth, allowing them to withstand a rainy winter.

Forming spectacular rounded clumps in a very short time, 'E.C Buxton' Dyer's Chamomile looks stunning alongside blue-flowering plants such as perennial flax, chicory, bugloss, and borage. It can be very useful for starting a new garden after construction work. It can be planted in country-style flower beds alongside simple flowers such as snapdragons, wallflowers, baptisias, or common sage. It also works well in more manicured borders, rock gardens, and even in a cutting flower garden. Its foliage pairs well with grey-leaved plants like artemisias and old-fashioned roses.

Anthemis tinctoria is a dye plant, from which a yellow dye was once extracted.