Chamomile related to ragweed?

[HannahGrace]

In working on garden plans this year I decided to try some different herbs. One of the herbs I wanted to do is chamomile but I've heard that it is related to ragweed. Is this true? And if it is, does it cause allergic reactions like ragweed? There are some people in my family who are allergic to ragweed and I'd hate to cause more problems by growing chamomile.

[digitS']

HannahGrace, that may be a question for allergy specialists.

I kind of think of ragweed as just being wherever I go on some old dirt road . . . Okay, I know it is everywhere but there sure has been a lot of it, some of the places where I've lived.

Chamomile is something I've grown but decided against continuing with it. Chamomile just didn't grow well enuf in my yard. It might have done well in a more open location. I do like it as a tea .

Both of these plants are in the Aster family but so are many, many others. They differ by genus, as well as species. So, just looking at an Aster family list, they don't appear to be closely related.

Ragweed is an Ambrosia. Chamomile is an Anthemis but this family is huge:

Aster Family, USDA

Steve

[HannahGrace]

Thanks, Steve. I had looked around a bit but didn't find too much on the subject.

[rainbowgardener]

Yes ragweed and chamomile are both in the Aster family, but so are chrysanthemums, asters, daisies, lettuce, chicory, artichoke, sunflowers, safflowers, dahlias, zinnias, and many other things. If your family is not allergic to these things, no reason to think they will be allergic to chamomile.