Discover the National Flower of Russia: Chamomile

The vast country of Russia stretches across a wide swath of land, beginning in eastern Europe and covering part of northern Asia. In fact, Russia is the largest country in the world and covers a total area of 6,601,665 square miles and a land area of 6,323,142 square miles. This is equal to 11% of the world’s landmass! There are thousands of unique plant species in Russia’s varied landscape full of diverse ecosystems. However, there is one that has the special honor of being named the national flower of Russia: the chamomile flower.

This article will cover the key characteristics of chamomile, where it grows, and why it was chosen to be Russia’s national flower. So let’s learn all about chamomile now!

The Geographic Context for Russia’s National Flower

Russia has numerous ecosystems as the largest country by landmass in the world. Preserving these is particularly important because Russia inhabits such a vast amount of land. This country’s geographic features include deserts, tall mountains, marshland, plains, Arctic coastline, seas, forests, and more. Typically, experts divide Russia into different zones: the tundra, the taiga (also called the forest), the steppe (also called the grasslands or plains), the arid zone, and the mountain zone. 

The country is home to most Arctic ecosystems, containing about 80% of all Arctic biodiversity. Russia’s biodiversity includes 25,000 species of fungi, 9,000 species of algae, and 12,500 species of vascular plants. Among these are numerous flowering plants, many of which are endemic to Russia. Some of these grow in the northern tundra, such as the wild hyacinth, a wildflower native to Russia. Other rare endemic species grow near Lake Baikal, a rift lake in the mountainous Siberian region.

In this context, the chamomile, the national flower of Russia, grows in the wild across the country’s grassy plains.

What is the National Flower of Russia?

Chamomile is the national flower of Russia. The Russian government officially declared chamomile to be the national flower of Russia in 1998.

As a representation of Russian culture, history, and people, the chamomile flower is not only an important symbol as the official national flower of Russia. Still, it is a plant with practical use too! While it does express ideas of rest, peace, and calm, traditional medicine also calls for chamomile to treat a wide range of illnesses and bring many therapeutic benefits.

Chamomile appears in many countries throughout Europe and Asia, where the bright white petals and vibrant yellow centers of this daisy-like flower are well-known and easily recognizable. In Russia, there are regions where chamomile flowers grow abundantly in fields and gardens. Chamomile also appears in stories, songs, cultural traditions, and even superstitions. 

What is the Chamomile Flower?

The word “chamomile,” also called “camomile,” comes from the Greek word Chamaimēlon. The national flower of Russia is actually not a single species. Rather, there are multiple types of flowers in the daisy family, Asteraceae, known colloquially as “chamomile.” The chamomile that is the national flower of Russia is Matricaria chamomilla. Matricaria chamomilla is a medicinal plant species that often appears in traditional medicines, including those of cultures in what is now modern Russia. 

Matricaria chamomilla, also called wild chamomile or simply “chamomile,” is often used to make herbal tea. The chamomile plants bloom from early summer well into the middle of the season. The plants produce flower heads with a bright yellow center of tubular florets encircled by 10-25 white petals. Chamomile flowers have a strong, fruity fragrance and attract many pollinators, including honeybees and butterflies. 

Where Do Chamomile Flowers Grow?

In Russia, chamomile flowers grow across much of the large country, as they are native to Europe and western Asia. When the flowers blossom in the summer months, between June and August, you can find them growing on cliffs, grasslands, and fields.

Typically, chamomile flowers thrive best in USDA hardiness zones 3 to 9. They need full sun and moist soil. They can tolerate sandy soil. As a perennial plant and ground cover, chamomile plants grow in interconnected mats with light, feather-like leaves. The flower stems grow upright, reaching heights of 12 to 24 inches or sometimes even taller.

What is Chamomile Used For?

Even back in ancient Greek and Roman times, people used chamomile to treat medical conditions. Historically, traditional healers recommend chamomile to treat symptoms like emotional distress, anxiety, muscle strain, nausea, cramps, and more. In addition, folk medicine uses chamomile to treat everything from chicken pox to stomach ulcers. While chamomile certainly is not a cure-all, studies do show that drinking chamomile tea can have positive health impacts. For example, some evidence suggests that chamomile can help lower blood sugar, relieve menstrual cramping, reduce inflammation, and improve sleep quality.

What is the Cultural Significance of Chamomile Flowers?

Chamomile has been used for medicinal purposes in Russia and other European countries for centuries. Chamomile is often associated with healing, rest, and peace thanks to its use in brewing calming tea and its familiar, calming fragrance. In Russian folklore, chamomile has an established place as an almost magical cure-all herb.

This reputation is reinforced in the folklore of Russia and nearby European countries. For example, there is a story about a mother trying fruitlessly to cure the sickness of her beloved son. She tried to no avail. Then, a traditional healer gave this mother a bouquet of fresh-cut chamomile flowers and instructed her to brew tea from them. Miraculously, the son was completely healed!

Chamomile also appears in other folk traditions around Midsummer’s Eve. For example, in Slavic culture (the ethnolinguistic group referring to people who speak languages from Eastern Europe, such as Russian, Polish, Czech, Slovak, Croatian, Ukrainian, and others), flowers in the daisy family have fortune-telling power. Among these flowers is the chamomile blossom, with its bright yellow center and circle of white petals. At midsummer, families would pick a flower to represent each member of the household. Whichever flower withered first was believed to be the next to die.

In modern times, the chamomile flower can be found throughout Russian art, including famous paintings, figurines, murals, and even pottery. You can also find them on stamps and as a symbol in official media and artistic representations of the government.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Olesya Myzzz/Shutterstock.com