Artemisia, French Tarragon 'Sativa'

I've grown tarragon just about everywhere I have ever lived but I have never seen it as tall and lush as it is here in eastern Massachuse...Read Moretts. My 14 month old plants are over 5 feet tall after dying back during the winter. It flowered in early June with its tiny flowers. Highly recommended.

This is the only herb on my roof garden that reliably comes back year after year. (It is in a large tub)

French Tarragon is not grown from seed, unlike the Mexican Tarragon commonly available in US nurseries and often labeled just 'tarragon' ...Read More(and also not perennial). Beware! You'll know the difference if you taste the leaves... french tarragon is without comparison for cooking. May be harvested (take1/2 to 2/3 the leaf stalks) twice during the growing season; later cut remaining stems to the ground for the last fall harvest. Dry thoroughly before storing. Smells wonderful!

A perennial sub-shrub from Central and Eastern Europe and Russia.

Has pale-mid green, lance-like, scented leaves on uprigh...Read Moret stems. Bears small, yellowish green/white, ball shaped flower heads which rarely open.

Flowers August-September

Likes a well drained, fertile soil in full sun.

French Tarragon - Artemisia dranunculus var. sativus and has a much better flavour than Russian Tarragon - Artemisia dranunculus, but is not nearly as hardy and requires some protection during winter. In the Russian Tarragon the leaves are thinner and paler. French Tarragon seldom sets seed.

Tarragon leaves are used in cookery and have a warm, tangy flavour and a pepper scent. It is used in herb butters, flavoured vinegars, salad dressings, soups, fish, rubbed on meat to be grilled and roasted and various sauces. Use sparingly! Chop and freeze leaves in ice cubes for an interesting addition to cold drinks.

Medicinally the root was once used to cure toothache and the leaves were used to; treat scurvy, in pick me up tonics, as a diuretic, to stimulate appetites and as a digestive aid. It was also once used to treat bites from snakes.

Cosmetically the leaves can be chewed to freshen breath. Tarragon oil has been used in perfume.