Just a few steps from my kitchen is my herb bed. It’s not a large herb garden, but it’s got the essentials. I find myself looking forward to the spring and summer months, which bring fresh herbs back to into the kitchen, flavoring meats, vegetables and salad dressings.
One of my favorite herbs is French tarragon, Artemisia dracunculus. This herb is not a remarkable herb to look at, but it provides great flavor and has an interesting history.
The species name dracunculus comes from the Latin meaning “a little dragon” because the herb was thought to cure the bites of snakes and rabid dogs. The Romans believed that a sprig of tarragon placed in the shoes prevented fatigue. The British believed there were medicinal powers in tarragon that could help the heart, liver and head. However, it’s the French that made tarragon an essential herb to be used in all types of cooking.
The tarragon plant is a little scraggly looking. The stems of the plant branch and are woody. Narrow, dark green leaves cover the stems of the plant.
Tarragon grows a tiny white flower that is virtually unnoticeable. At maturity, the plant is about one foot wide and two to three feet tall.
The leaves of tarragon have a distinctive anise or licorice flavor. The herb can be used fresh or dried, and many gardeners like to infuse cooking oils and vinegars with tarragon for cooking. Tarragon is an herb that is commonly paired with chicken although it goes well with many other meats and vegetables.
Tarragon grows in full sun to partial shade, preferring well-draining soil. Unlike many herbs, tarragon does not survive prolonged periods of drought. It is hardy in zones four to six. Mulch may help tarragon survive an especially cold winter in an unsheltered area.
Tarragon does not set seed. Cuttings of the plant may be taken in the spring for propagation, and the plant may take up to two months to root. Pruning will encourage branches.
There are two main harvest periods for tarragon – early to mid-summer and just before the autumnal frost. Additional sprigs may be harvested as needed.
When purchasing tarragon to plant in your garden, be sure to buy French tarragon. Another tarragon, Russian tarragon (which also has the same Latin name), looks identical but lacks the flavor of French tarragon.
