🌿 Tarragon

Artemisia dracunculus (French tarragon , the culinary/medicinal type); Artemisia dracunculoides (Russian tarragon , inferior)

herbs Perennial herb Asteraceae

☀️ Sun

Full sun to partial shade; 5-6 hours minimum.

💧 Water

Allow soil to dry between watering. Drought-tolerant. Overwatering kills tarragon.

🗺️ Zones

USDA zones 4-8 as perennial , requires winter dormancy. Not suited for zones 9+ (no winter chill).

🧪 Soil pH

6.5-7.5 (prefers well-drained, slightly alkaline; French tarragon dislikes wet soil)

🪴 Soil Type

Well-draining, moderately rich; pH 6.5-7.5. Sandy loam ideal. Does NOT tolerate wet feet.

📏 Spacing

18-24 inches apart

📐 Height

18-36 inches

⏱️ Maturity

Light harvest 3-4 months from transplant; full harvest year 2

🍴 Edible Parts

🍽️ Leaves 🍽️ Stems (young)

Key:🤝 Grows well together❌ Keep apart☀️ Sun needs💧 Water🗺️ Hardiness zone

🤝 Companions (2)

🤝 Eggplant

Tarragon is said to improve eggplant growth and flavor.

🤝 Nasturtium

Combined pest-deterrent effect; complementary growing needs.

⚠️ Keep Apart (1)

⚠️ Dill (controversial)

Some sources suggest incompatible aromatic profiles; evidence is mixed.

💊 Medicinal Uses

Conditions Treated

💊 Digestive sluggishness and poor appetite (bitter tonic , stimulates digestive secretions) 💊 Insomnia (mild sedative , traditional use) 💊 Toothache (traditional anesthetic , chewing leaves numbs the mouth) 💊 Intestinal parasites (traditional vermifuge) 💊 Menstrual cramps and irregular cycles (emmenagogue) 💊 Water retention (mild diuretic) 💊 Scurvy (vitamin C source , historical use on long sea voyages)

Preparation Methods

Digestive vinegar: Tarragon infused in white wine vinegar , a classic French 'vinaigre à l'estragon'; 1 tsp before meals as appetite stimulant
Tea: 1 tsp dried tarragon steeped 5-10 min; for digestive sluggishness and as a sleep aid
Tincture: 1:5 in 45% alcohol; 1-2ml before meals for digestive stimulation
Chewing leaves: Fresh leaf chewed for toothache (numbing effect)
Tarragon butter: Finely chopped in butter , culinary medicine for digestive support

Active Compounds

⚗️ Estragole (methyl chavicol) ⚗️ Ocimene ⚗️ Phellandrene ⚗️ Flavonoids ⚗️ Coumarins

⚠️ Safety

Contains estragole , a potential carcinogen in very high isolated doses. Normal culinary use is considered safe. Avoid long-term high-dose medicinal use. Avoid medicinal doses during pregnancy (emmenagogue and estragole concerns). May interact with blood thinners (coumarins). Russian tarragon has minimal medicinal value.

📜 History & Folklore

🏛️ Ancient

Used by ancient Greeks and Romans for snakebite and as an anesthetic. Pliny noted tarragon prevented fatigue , travelers placed sprigs in their shoes.

🏰 Medieval

Called 'little dragon' (dracunculus) , believed to cure dragon bites and snake venom (Doctrine of Signatures , the coiled root resembled a dragon/serpent). Used in medieval monastery gardens.

🌿 Folk Medicine

French folk medicine uses tarragon as a digestive bitter and appetite stimulant. Used to treat 'lazy stomach.' Tarragon vinegar is a traditional European digestive tonic. Russian tarragon used as a cheap substitute but lacks medicinal potency.

🛒 Buy Seeds & Plants

Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds Johnny's Selected Seeds Botanical Interests True Leaf Market Burpee Territorial Seed Company

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