Pineapple Weed

Matricaria discoidea

Pineapple weed can be found growing in North America and Eurasia. It grows in compacted soils, on gravel paths, and along trails. It is an easy-to-find hardy annual plant that grows where few other plants will. The small greenish-yellow, dome-shaped flower heads lack petals. They give off a sweet pineapple scent when crushed. The finely divided leaves and low-growing habit of the plant make it easy to identify once you smell it.

Pineapple weed is a traditional mild digestive and calming herb [1][2]. The flower heads are made into a tea to help soothe upset stomach, gas, or mild anxiety. It can be used as an alternative to chamomile, but the flavor is more fruity than floral. It has also been used for mild colds, or simply as an unassuming relaxing tea to drink after a meal [2][3].

As pineapple weed grows where humans travel, care should be taken with where you harvest plants. Harvest from clean areas and not near roadsides or heavily-trampled paths. The flowers can be dried for tea or used fresh in the summer.

[1] Koshovyi, Oleh, Janne Sepp, Valdas Jakštas, Vaidotas Žvikas, Karina Tolmacheva, Igor Kireyev, and Jyrki Heinämäki. “Phytochemical and Pharmacological Study on the Dry Extract of Matricaria discoidea DC. Herb and Its Amino Acids Preparations.” Phyton – International Journal of Experimental Botany 93, no. 11 (2024): 2909–2925. https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2024.056536

[2] “Phytochemical, Pharmacological, and Molecular Docking Study of Dry Extracts of Matricaria discoidea DC.” Biomolecules 14, no. 3 (2024): 361. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14030361

[3] “Identifying and Using Pineapple Weed (Matricaria discoidea).” Midwest Permaculture. https://midwestpermaculture.com/identifying-and-using-pineapple-weed-3/