One aspect about foraging that I love is when I discover a plant that I’ve seen for years, since childhood even, is edible and medicinal! This was the case with pineapple weed, also known as wild chamomile. When I learned several years ago that it can be used in the same way as its close relative chamomile, I was shocked and excited! Foraging for pineapple weed is easy, it grows almost everywhere, and you’ve most likely seen it before. Pineapple weed tea is a great way to utilize its benefits!
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Wildcrafting Weeds
If you want to learn more about the edible and medicinal weeds that surround us and how to use them, check out my eBook: Wildcrafting Weeds: 20 Easy to Forage Edible and Medicinal Plants (that might be growing in your backyard)!
Identifying Pineapple Weed (Wild Chamomile)
Pineapple weed (Matricaria discoidea) is very easy to identify. The flower heads are cone shaped and yellowish green in color and do not have petals.
It looks similar to cultivated chamomile flowers, but without the white petals, and it stays much lower to the ground.
The flowers and leaves smell almost identical to chamomile, with a pineapple undertone. It’s a lovely and sweet smell that will always remind me of summertime as a child!
Related: 13 Early Spring Edible Wild Greens
Because pineapple weed is often considered a weed, be careful where you harvest from to be sure that it hasn’t been sprayed with any toxic chemicals.
It commonly grows on or along walking paths, trails, roadsides, and in disturbed areas. I wouldn’t recommend harvesting in these areas as they are often polluted.
Try to harvest in areas that are away from heavy use by humans, pets, and vehicles.
Edible and Medicinal Uses of Pineapple Weed (Wild Chamomile)
Pineapple weed has many of the same benefits as chamomile, namely being good for relaxation and promoting sleep, and as an excellent digestive aid.
It’s also helpful for treating colds and is a mild pain reliever.
Besides having multiple medicinal benefits, pineapple weed is also edible and delicious! It can be made into a tea (see below), which is probably the easiest and most common way to use it.
You can also try making these yummy cookies, or this cordial, or this lovely sounding wildflower jam!
Pineapple Weed Tea
My favorite way to use pineapple weed is the simplest: tea!
It tastes somewhat similar to chamomile tea (another favorite of mine), but slightly sweeter and with a definite pineapple flavor. I can see why this plant got its common name!
It’s as easy to make as any herbal tea, simply pour boiling water over a spoonful of fresh flowers, then strain when ready to drink. It can be served hot or iced.
It’s so awesome when a plant that you’ve seen many times turns out to be useful. Pineapple weed has so many benefits to us and it’s always been there right under our feet!
More Herbal Tea Recipes
Herbal tea is like giving your water a nutrition and flavor boost. Enjoy our other tea recipes!
Pineapple Weed Tea
Instructions
- Bring the water to a boil and pour it over the pineapple weed flowers.
- Allow to steep for at least 5 minutes.
- Strain and sweeten if desired.
Interesting, but that is dog fennel… Wild chamomile looks just like chamomile only smaller and has a lightly apple sent. Wild chamomile is also sometimes called Roman chamomile. I was the Idaho state champion in plant identification in the Future Farmers of America. …kind of know a thing or two about weeds. Had to identify 240 individual species. Chamomile and dog fennel were among them.
You are mistaken. This is 100% Matricaria discoidea. That is the thing about common names for plants, we all have different ones, depending on where we live.
I was introduced to this weed last summer while foraging for chanterelles. Both grow in abundance on our island. I’m thinking of adding pineapple weed tea to a batch of white wine next summer. Has anyone ever tried this before?
I haven’t but I’m sure it’ll be delicious!
Since it’s so good for so many things, especially an insect repellent you’d think someone would cultivate it and sell it. There’s none where I’m at but would love to have it!!!!
If you find it, you can try transplanting it disturbed soil around your house.
I made tea today. I might have used too much flowers. It tasted bitter. I hope I have the right plant
Didn’t use too much.
It gets bitter if steeped too long.
Hope this helps!😌
🌼
Apparently, chamomile and pineapple weed heals with cramps. They help with menstrual and normal cramps. I’d reccomend making a lavender and pineapple weed tea to help with cramps. Lavender soothes the muscles while pineapple weed heals.
Do you know if Pineapple Weed grows in Western New York or in the Southern Frontier of WNY..? I want some so bad! I saw a video where a lady treated her children in a bath of Pineapple Weed – for their eczema and it never came back. I suffer with eczema, as well… Thank you!
Hi there. I am really not sure, but pineapple weed is wide spread over much of the country, so it’s very likely it does grow in your area.
eczema is an autoimmune disorder that is better treated by diet. you have to get the inflammation in your system under control then it will go away. i suffered for many years myself. i recommend the AIP protocol
Eczema is related to allergens. No auto immune. Am a nurse as well as suffering from it myself.
Eczema can be caused by so many things (including auto immune (pet my dermatologist father)). Recommend seeing one and they can possibly help identify the cause. Many times there are overlooked causes. Though obviously far too many people have to suffer. Obviously I’m not the doctor, but he’s had some great stories with the more recent biologics for long term sufferers. Though obviously only a doctor can work you up to that point.
Good luck. Everything is worth a shot. Don’t let other supposed medical people get in your way. Make changes and try things. If you can afford it, see a doctor that can help guide you through options as well.
The reason chamomile helps excema is because it is a mast cell stabilizer. Mast cells aka our allergy cells are responsible for multisystemic reactions.
It’s here in western NY. We have it in our driveway!
Absolutely does. I’m from buffalo. It’s all over there&the suburbs. Also down into arcade.. springville..etc
It grows in WNY.
does this interfere with any medicatons?
Not that I’m aware of, but I would check with your doctor to be sure.
As kids, we made pineapple lemonade. Still enjoy it hot or cold.
I wish we had this weed instead of the look a like that happens to be poisonous. I was so hopeful when foraging but after identifying the plant that is growing in my yard as Ranunculus abortivus, or little leaf buttercup – I just ignore it. The little pineapple shaped pods that grow from the flower look a lot like the pineapple plant that you show… but it isn’t the right plant.
I have a ton of it but it does eventually form small white flowers. Your post says it doesn’t flower so do I not have the correct plant?
I don’t believe you have the correct plant. Are you thinking of chamomile? They’re in the same family.
It could also be Feverfew?
Can you dehydrate pineapple weed and use if for tea in the winter
You sure can!
Can you use the leaves too or just the flowers?
Yes, they’re both edible.
I’ll have to give this recipe a try! The pineapple chamomile is very abundant this year around my house.
Last year I adapted the popular dandelion flower tea jelly recipe to use pineapple chamomile instead. It was a massive hit! It also proved to be one of the most effective natural stomach remedy that I’ve come across. My husband has Crohn’s disease so I’m always trying to find new things to help him avoid a flare. He found that if he put a spoon of the pineapple chamomile tea jelly in a mug of warm water, it proved to be a great stomach calmer nearly on par with his usual go to when he feels a flare coming on: marshmallow root extract and chaga extract.
Thanks for sharing this recipe! My teen girls were out foraging in the woods last week and came across a patch of red clover in a clearing. I love making pink lemonade, but I didn’t really know what else to do with red clover (that sounded interesting). This will be a treat.
Thanks for sharing, Naomi! I’ve never tried pineapple weed jelly, but it sounds amazing! That may need to be on my to-do list this summer!
A little late to the article, it would you mind sharing your jelly recipe.
If you or your pets get cuts that get infected soak the wound in a bath or bowl depends on where the wound is . Soak it in hot water and camomile to draw the infection out, in a few days you will notice rapid healing.
Thanks for sharing!
What do you do to the leaves of pinnapple weed to use it for mosquito repellent?
Thanks so much! I have always loved this plant – vividly remember playing with it as a child and my daughter just last week was picking it and asking me if it was edible – we are both so excited to learn about it! Thank you!!
Is there a look alike. What I have found, the yellow bloom is not dome shaped, almost flat.
If the yellow bloom is flat, it may be tansy.
Has no one else experienced the prickle that this plan forms when it dries out ?…I thought it was heaven sent when it covered my lawn….was like walking on a cloud…UNTIL it dried out and went to seed…..it forms a prickle like a 3 cornered jack and excruciating to walk on….All the write ups about this plant NEVER mentions that…WHY?….I have identified the plant correctly , before any one brings ID up :D
Most likely it is never mentioned because of two maine reasons in my opinion. One, people harvest before they go to seed. Two, people dont let their yard go through their full cycle. They are always mowing and killing.
I don’t believe that pineapple weed forms a prickly seed, are you sure that this is the same plant?
I am very familiar with this plant in areas that are never mowed. I have never known it to form a prickly seed.
You must be referring to goat head or puncture vine weeds. Yes very painful. As soon as you see them when yellow pull it out and burn them. They multiply like crazy
I tried this tea myself and loved it. It has a unique tropical fruit and pine flavor, like a resinous pineapple, and I like it way more than chamomile. They are pretty annoying to harvest, though, so I will probably try growing it next year. Maybe I could try using one of those handheld chamomile head harvesters.
Have you tried this in a gallon batch of mead?
Great minds think alike; not mead, but I had the thought of using this stuff in an IPA; I’m hoping the fruity, pineapple notes will help create an overall festive, almost tropical aroma to the beer, and recontextualize the flavor and aroma of the hops to hopefully avoid grapefruitiness. If you end up making that mead let me know how it goes.
I have lots of gravel-the steep driveway, the many parking spots, walkways to concrete entrances, etc. I encourage this wonderful “weed” to grow on all of them. When wet out, they keep sand from sticking to the soles of your shoes- I am not constantly dragging grit onto the other surfaces or into vehicles. It keeps my driveway from eroding. It smells great-especially when mowed. Mowing does not hurt it. It looks great to me. When thick, I have a natural carpet to walk on, instead of rocks. that doubles as my front door mat! Love it.
I’m going out to pick some right now! Thanks so much! I love your website!!!
Can you eat the whole plant or only the leaves and flowers?
This is great! I found these growing in our yard and thought they looked just like chamomile. And so the quest begun to find out what they are and I strumbled on your website. I am definitely going to make some tea!
Can it be dehydrated to use in winter as tea?
Yes! Although I would probably just dry the flowers on drying screens rather than dehydrating them.
Inspiring! I am sure I’ll love this tea too. Can’t wait to spot some and brew myself a cup!
Thank you for all your wonderful posts, by the way. I never comment (I’ll try to more!) but I always benefit, not just your from your wisdom but from your clear love for the earth and for us. <3