General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Dry Mesic
Dry
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 7b -15 °C (5 °F) to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 10b
Plant Height: 1-3 feet
Plant Spread: 3-4 feet
Leaves: Fragrant
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Yellow
Bloom Size: Under 1"
Flower Time: Late summer or early fall
Fall
Uses: Culinary Herb
Medicinal Herb
Edible Parts: Leaves
Flowers
Eating Methods: Tea
Cooked
Dynamic Accumulator: P (Phosphorus)
Resistances: Humidity tolerant
Drought tolerant
Pollinators: Various insects
Containers: Suitable in 3 gallon or larger
Needs excellent drainage in pots

Image
Common names
  • Mexican Mint Marigold
  • Mexican Tarragon
  • Texas Tarragon
  • Yauhtli
  • Yerba Anís

Photo Gallery
Location: Kyle, Texas
Date: 2017-10-23
The setting sun really brings out the warm fall colors in the lan
Location: Kyle, texas
Date: 2017-10-25
Anise-scented leaves makes this a good herb for recipes
Location: My garden
Date: 2016-10-21
#Pollination
Location: Kyle, TX
Date: 2023-11-28
Lovely fall color and fragrance
Location: My garden
Date: 2016-05-05
#Pollination
Location: Southern Pines, NC (Boyd House garden)
Date: October 20, 2022
Mexican Tarragon #122 nn; LHB page 1013, 194-58-1, "From 'Tages',

Date: 2021-06-19

Date: 2021-06-08

Courtesy Outsidepride
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: The Natural State (Arkansas)
Date: 2020-06-23

Date: 2021-06-07
Location: Kyle, TX
Date: 2021-10-24
The blooms are smaller this year but still vibrant
Location: Southern Pines, NC (Boyd House garden)
Date: October 20, 2022
Mexican Tarragon #122 nn; LHB page 1013, 194-58-1, "From 'Tages',

Date: 2021-06-09

Date: 2021-06-13

Date: 2021-06-13
Location: Norhteastern, Texas
Date: 2010-10-10
This is two plants side by side - they grew pretty big!
Location: Northeastern, Texas
Date: 2011-11-06
Blooms in fall
Location: Charleston, SC
Date: 2020-10-21
Location: Brownstown Pennsylvania
Date: 2017-06-04
Location: Plano, TX
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2016-10-26
Location: Charleston SC
Date: August 10th
3 yrs old but without blooms for 2 years
Location: Indiana  Zone 5
Date: 2011-04-21

Date: 2021-06-01
Photo by Joannabanana
Location: Northeastern, Texas
Date: 2012-04-15
Tagetes lucida attracts beneficial ladybugs
Location: Ft Worth Botanic, Tx
Date: 2017-11-18
Location: My garden
Date: 2017-12-20
Bee happy!

Date: c. 1931
illustration by Mary E. Eaton from 'Addisonia', 1931

Date: 2021-06-09
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2016-09-03
Location: Northeastern, Texas
Date: 2012-05-31
The plant  has nice form and is very tame.

Courtesy Outsidepride
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: Brownstown Pennsylvania
Date: 2017-06-04

Date: 2021-06-04
Location: Ft Worth Botanic, Tx
Date: 2017-11-18

Date: 2021-05-27
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2017-03-10
Location: My garden
Date: 2017-12-20
Location: Tennessee
Date: 2013-09-10
Container grown

Date: 2016-03-13
Location: Maryland
Date: 2014-08-23

photo credit: Dick Culbert
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2016-10-13

Photo courtesy of Annie's Annuals and Perennials
  • Uploaded by Joy

Courtesy Seeds of Victoria
  • Uploaded by vic
Location: Silver Spring, MD
Date: 2014-06-11
This plant is tagged in:
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Comments:
  • Posted by wildflowers (North East Texas - Zone 7b) on Jun 12, 2012 9:31 AM concerning plant:
    I'm always finding ladybugs on the leaves of this plant, which I love having in the garden. The first year I grew the plant, I tried using it in cooking, instead of French tarragon... it's just not as good & has a slightly resinous aftertaste but it wasn't bad either. It blooms after summer, when much of the garden plants are finished flowering. I enjoy seeing the the bright, sunny looking flowers in autumn, when not much else is in bloom. Tagets lucida was and still is used by many Tribes for medicine and purifying rituals.
  • Posted by SongofJoy (Clarksville, TN - Zone 6b) on Sep 29, 2013 5:31 AM concerning plant:
    Spanish Tarragon is easier to grow than French Tarragon. It's not as spicy but can be used in most recipes calling for tarragon with satisfactory results.

    Secretions from the roots (after 3-4 months of growth) appear to have an insecticidal effect and be effective against nematodes, bean weevils, asparagus weevils, as well as some weedy grasses. The dried plant is also burned to repel insects.

    A yellow dye can be made from the flowers.
  • Posted by evelyninthegarden (Sierra foothills, Northern CA - Zone 8a) on Dec 20, 2017 4:43 PM concerning plant:
    I have found this plant to be extremely easy care, with almost no water once established. I have in an un-fenced area, but the deer do not eat it. I can enjoy it until the first hard freeze, or when it starts snowing. This year we won't get a freeze until tonight, which is December 20th. Every year is different.
  • Posted by Catmint20906 (PNW WA half hour south of Olympia - Zone 8a) on Aug 27, 2014 12:58 PM concerning plant:
    Texas Tarragon (Tagetes lucida) produces small yellow blossoms in mid to late summer. It has considerable use in the garden as a companion plant, helping to repel aphids, whiteflies, cabbage maggot, corn earworm, Mexican bean beetle, rabbits, some nematodes, and plum curculio. Native to Mexico and Central America, Tagetes lucida can be used as a tarragon substitute in cooking, and is used as a medicinal tea in in Mexico and Central America.
  • Posted by Marilyn (Kentucky - Zone 6a) on May 24, 2013 11:42 PM concerning plant:
    "Tagetes lucida is a half-hardy sub-shrub native to Mexico and Central America. It is eaten as an herb and is commonly used as a substitute for tarragon. The leaves have a tarragon-like flavor, with hints of anise. Common names include Mexican marigold, pericón, Mexican mint marigold, Mexican tarragon, Spanish tarragon, Cempaxóchitl and Texas tarragon.

    Mexican tarragon grows 18-30 in (46–76 cm) tall. The plant is bushy with many smooth, upright, unbranched stems. The leaves are linear to oblong, about 3 in (7.6 cm) long, and shiny medium green, not blue-green as in French tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus var. sativa). In late summer it bears clusters of small yellow flower heads on the ends of the stems. Needs warm dry climate and 3 tbs of water a day. The flower heads are about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) across and have 3-5 golden-yellow ray florets. The flowers are hermaphroditic (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by insects."

    Taken from wikipedia's page at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T...

  • Posted by gardengus (Indiana Zone 5b) on Feb 27, 2012 12:56 PM concerning plant:
    I grew this plant last year and found it not worthy of space in my garden. It was neither pretty nor useful.
    On a positive note it was an easy care plant and grew well.
  • Posted by TexasPlumeria87 (Plano, TX - Zone 8a) on Mar 10, 2017 12:49 PM concerning plant:
    I was a little disappointed in the blooms last year, but the aromatic foliage makes it worthy of staying in my garden. I'm hoping it will produce more blooms this Fall.
Plant Events from our members
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Discussion Threads about this plant
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Mexican mint marigold by sheehanmi Nov 22, 2017 10:41 PM 1

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