We have recently published ‘Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions’: i.e. tropical and sub-tropical regions. We rely on regular donations to keep our free database going and help fund development of this and another book we are planning on food forest plants for Mediterranean climates. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Matricaria matricarioides - (Less.)Porter.

Common Name Pineapple Weed
Family Asteraceae or Compositae
USDA hardiness 5-9
Known Hazards Some people are allergic to this plant[222].
Habitats Waysides and waste places, especially along tracks, paths and by trampled gateways[17].
Range N.E. Asia. An introduced and increasing weed in Britain.
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (1 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Matricaria matricarioides Pineapple Weed


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:SriMesh
Matricaria matricarioides Pineapple Weed
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:SriMesh

 

Translate this page:

Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Matricaria matricarioides is a ANNUAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from June to July, and the seeds ripen from July to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, flies.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

M. discoidea. DC. M. suaveolens. non L.

Plant Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers
Edible Uses: Tea

Flower heads - raw or cooked[172]. A tasty nibble[172]. The dried flowers are used to make herb teas[172]. They are pineapple scented when steeped in hot water[183].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antispasmodic  Carminative  Galactogogue  Sedative  Skin  Vermifuge

The flowering plant is antispasmodic, carminative, galactogogue, sedative, skin and vermifuge[9, 172, 222]. This plant is rarely used medicinally, though it is sometimes employed as a domestic remedy in the treatment of intestinal worms and also as a sedative[9]. The plant is harvested when in flower in the summer and is dried for later use[9]. Some caution is advised since some individuals are allergic to this plant[222].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Tropical Plants

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Temperate Plants

Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital media.
More Books

PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.

Shop Now

Other Uses

Repellent

The plant repels insects[172]. The dried flowers are used as an insect repellent[213].

Special Uses

Scented Plants

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in any well-drained soil in a sunny position[200]. The bruised or sun-warmed leaves emit the appealing odour of ripe apples[245].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

Shop Now

Plant Propagation

Seed - sow spring or late summer in situ. Germination should take place within 3 weeks.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Russian Federation-Far East (Far East) NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (Northwest Territories, Yukon, Québec, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Alberta, Manitoba, British Columbia), United States (Alaska, Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Illinois, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, Arkansas, Delaware, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Matricaria recutitaGerman CamomileAnnual0.5 5-9  LMHNDM154
Tanacetum partheniumFeverfew, MatricariaPerennial0.6 5-8 MLMHNDM252

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

(Less.)Porter.

Botanical References

17

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Markus Eymann   Mon Sep 8 2008

I have found that this plant (pineappleweed) is very useful for treating older (3-4 days or more) wounds that are slow to heal. I make a strong tea, allow it to cool, apply it to the wound, allow it to dry, then repeat. A single application is usually enough. I have used it on myself and other people, on infected scraps, shallow cuts, and deep cuts, including surgical incisions. Most people comment on an immediate sensation of relief, there are visible signs of healing within a day, healing is complete in three days to one week.

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Matricaria matricarioides  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.