Mexican Tarragon
Tagetes lucida
Mexican Tarragon is an easy-to-grow heirloom herb that reaches maturity in 80-90 days. This tender perennial features delicate, feathery foliage with small yellow flowers and grows well in full sun with well-draining soil, tolerating poor soils and clay. Unlike French tarragon, Mexican Tarragon offers a distinctive sweet anise flavor complemented by subtle marigold notes, making it ideal for culinary applications requiring tarragon's licorice character with added complexity. The plant is notably pest-resistant and deer-proof, requiring minimal maintenance once established.
Harvest
80-90d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun
Zones
8–11
USDA hardiness
Height
6-30 inches
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Mexican Tarragon in USDA Zone 11
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Mexican Tarragon · Zones 8–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
Succession Planting
Mexican tarragon is a tender perennial in zones 8–11 and keeps producing from first harvest around day 80-90 straight through December most years — there's no need to succession-sow it the way you would cilantro or arugula. Start one round indoors in February or March, transplant in April or May after last frost, and let the plant run.
If you're on the colder edge of zone 8 where it dies back hard in winter, treat it as an annual and start fresh each February. Staggered sowings won't gain you anything — the harvest window is long enough that a single planting covers the whole season.
Complete Growing Guide
Mexican tarragon thrives in warm climates where French tarragon struggles, making it ideal for gardeners in hot, humid regions who've abandoned traditional tarragon. Plant after the last frost when soil temperatures reach 60°F, as this heat-loving herb germinates slowly in cool conditions. Provide full sun and well-draining soil to prevent root rot during humid summers—this cultivar is more susceptible than French tarragon to fungal issues in moisture-laden environments. Watch for spider mites in hot, dry spells, as stressed plants attract infestations readily. Unlike French tarragon, Mexican tarragon rarely bolts, but leggy growth occurs in insufficient light, so ensure six to eight hours of direct sun daily. Pinch stem tips regularly during the growing season to encourage bushier plants and extend the flowering window through fall, maximizing your harvest of both leaves and ornamental golden blooms.
Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day). Soil: Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally Dry. Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.. Spread: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.. Spacing: 12 inches-3 feet. Growth rate: Medium. Maintenance: Low. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal.
Harvesting
Harvest Mexican tarragon leaves when they reach full size and display vibrant green coloring, pinching from the top of stems to encourage bushier growth. For continuous harvests throughout the growing season, regularly remove the upper third of stems rather than stripping the entire plant at once, which maintains productivity and prevents flowering. The sweet licorice flavor intensifies just before the plant flowers, so begin harvesting aggressively in mid-to-late summer when golden-yellow flower buds first appear; this timing maximizes flavor while the blooms themselves can be collected separately for garnishing. Avoid harvesting more than one-third of the plant at any single time to maintain vigor and extend your harvest window through fall.
Achenes black, narrowly cylindrical; pappus of 1 to 3 setae and 7 to 9 much shorter scales with ciliate margins.
Color: Black. Type: Achene.
Edibility: Flowers are used to make tea. Leaves are used fresh or dried in soups and sauces. Their flavor is similar to anise.
Storage & Preservation
Fresh Mexican tarragon leaves stay crisp for 7-10 days when stored like fresh flowers—trim stem ends and place in a glass of water, cover leaves with a plastic bag, and refrigerate. Change water every 2-3 days to prevent bacterial growth.
For long-term preservation, air-drying works exceptionally well with this variety. Bundle small stems with rubber bands and hang in a warm, dark, well-ventilated space for 2-3 weeks until leaves crumble easily. The dried herb retains its anise flavor for up to two years when stored in airtight containers away from light.
Freezing fresh leaves in ice cube trays with olive oil or water preserves both flavor and color for 6-8 months. This method works perfectly for adding to soups, sauces, and braises during winter months. Mexican tarragon also makes excellent herbal vinegar—steep fresh leaves in white wine vinegar for 3-4 weeks, then strain for a flavorful condiment that keeps for years.
History & Origin
Mexican tarragon (Tagetes lucida) is native to Mexico and Central America, where it has been used for centuries in traditional cuisine and folk medicine. While specific breeding records or named cultivators are not well documented in horticultural literature, the species represents a distinct lineage within the Tagetes genus, separate from French tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus). As a wild-collected species rather than a formal breeding program introduction, Mexican tarragon was likely preserved through seed saving by indigenous communities and later adopted by gardeners seeking a heat-tolerant alternative to temperamental French tarragon. Its introduction to wider cultivation in North America and Europe occurred gradually through the twentieth century as interest in herb diversity and heirloom varieties expanded.
Origin: Mexico to Honduras
Advantages
- +Thrives in warm climates where French tarragon cannot survive
- +Sweet licorice flavor with marigold notes enhances salads and dishes
- +Edible golden-yellow flowers provide dual culinary and decorative uses
- +Naturally deer resistant with minimal pest and disease problems
- +Reaches harvest maturity in just 80-90 days
Considerations
- -Requires warmer growing conditions; unsuitable for cold climates
- -Less cold-hardy perennial than French tarragon in most regions
- -May have lower yield compared to traditional tarragon varieties
Companion Plants
Tomatoes and peppers are the natural neighbors here — Mexican tarragon's sharp anise scent appears to disorient thrips and whiteflies searching for a host, and the two crops share similar full-sun, well-drained requirements that make bed planning straightforward. Marigolds (Tagetes patula specifically) are worth stacking nearby: NC State Extension is unambiguous that a dense, solid planting of French marigolds suppresses root-knot nematodes, and pairing them with Mexican tarragon keeps that block of the bed doing double duty. Beans and squash round things out well because their root zones don't overlap much with tarragon's shallow system, and NC State Extension's interplanting guidance points out that mixing plant families limits how fast any single pest moves through the plot — around here in the southeast, that matters once June arrives and pest pressure climbs fast.
Fennel is the one to keep on the far side of the garden. It releases allelopathic root compounds that stunt most neighboring plants, and tarragon is no exception. Black walnut produces juglone through its root system and fallen debris, which is broadly toxic — don't plant within drop-zone range of one. Sage is a subtler problem: it wants the same dry, well-drained conditions and will quietly crowd tarragon out if the two are planted closer than 18 inches apart.
Plant Together
Tomatoes
Mexican tarragon repels aphids and whiteflies that commonly attack tomatoes
Peppers
Deters aphids and spider mites while thriving in similar warm conditions
Marigolds
Both plants repel nematodes and work together to deter garden pests
Basil
Complementary pest control against aphids and thrips, similar growing requirements
Beans
Mexican tarragon attracts beneficial insects that help with bean pollination
Squash
Helps repel squash bugs and cucumber beetles with its aromatic oils
Carrots
Attracts beneficial wasps that prey on carrot fly larvae
Cilantro
Both attract beneficial insects and have similar water and sun requirements
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone which inhibits growth of Mexican tarragon and most herbs
Fennel
Allelopathic properties inhibit growth of nearby herbs including Mexican tarragon
Sage
Competes for nutrients and may inhibit growth through root competition
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #170937)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Excellent disease resistance, very hardy
Common Pests
Few pest problems, deer resistant
Diseases
Rarely affected by diseases
Troubleshooting Mexican Tarragon
What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.
Seedlings emerge unevenly or not at all after 14 days indoors
Likely Causes
- Soil temperature too low — Tagetes lucida germinates best above 65°F
- Seed sown too deep (over 1/4 inch) in heavy starting mix
- Old or poorly stored seed with low viability
What to Do
- 1.Move trays onto a heat mat set to 70-75°F and check again at day 14
- 2.Re-sow shallowly — just press seed into moist mix and cover lightly with vermiculite
- 3.Start fresh seed indoors in February to give yourself a March backup round before the April transplant window
Small, sticky, bronze-colored clusters on new growth, leaves beginning to curl
Likely Causes
- Aphid infestation — typically green peach aphid (Myzus persicae) or foxglove aphid (Aulacorthum solani)
- Overcrowded planting reducing air circulation, which NC State Extension notes creates ideal aphid and mite conditions
What to Do
- 1.Knock aphids off with a hard stream of water from a hose — do this in the morning so foliage dries fast
- 2.Apply insecticidal soap directly to colonies; NC State Extension confirms it's appropriate for culinary herbs where traditional pesticides are not labeled
- 3.Space plants at least 12 inches apart so air moves freely between them
Whitefly clouds rising from foliage when plants are disturbed, with sticky honeydew residue coating leaves
Likely Causes
- Silverleaf whitefly (Bemisia argentifolii) — common in warm Georgia summers, especially on stressed or crowded plants
- Low natural predator populations, often from nearby broad-spectrum pesticide use
What to Do
- 1.Spray undersides of leaves with insecticidal soap in the evening to avoid leaf scorch
- 2.Hand-remove heavily infested leaves and dispose of them in the trash, not the compost
- 3.Don't site this plant directly next to tomatoes or peppers already showing whitefly pressure — they'll move between hosts quickly
Established plant wilts and collapses despite adequate soil moisture; stem base looks dark or water-soaked at the crown
Likely Causes
- Southern blight (Sclerotium rolfsii) — a soil-borne fungus that thrives above 85°F in humid conditions, common in Georgia from June onward
- Poorly drained soil keeping the crown consistently wet
What to Do
- 1.Remove and trash the entire plant, including the top 2-3 inches of surrounding soil
- 2.Skip replanting herbs or nightshades in that spot for at least 2 seasons — NC State Extension notes that some soil-borne pathogens do not disappear over time
- 3.Before next season, work compost into the bed to improve drainage and switch to drip or base-only irrigation to keep the crown dry
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Mexican tarragon take to grow from seed?▼
Can you grow Mexican tarragon in containers?▼
What does Mexican tarragon taste like compared to French tarragon?▼
Is Mexican tarragon good for beginner gardeners?▼
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Does Mexican tarragon come back every year?▼
Growing Guides from Wind River Greens
Where to Buy Seeds
Sources & References
External authority sources used in compiling this guide.
- ExtensionNC State Extension
- USDAUSDA FoodData Central
See the Methodology page for how this data is sourced, what's AI-assisted, and known limitations.