Create Your Garden

Artemisia dracunculus (French Tarragon)

Tarragon, Biting Dragon, Dragon Plant, Estragon, French Tarragon, True Tarragon

Artemisia dracunculus, Tarragon, Biting Dragon, Dragon Plant, Estragon

Artemisia dracunculus (French Tarragon) is a woody-based, upright perennial prized for its narrowly lance-shaped, aromatic leaves, 3-4 in. long (7-10 cm). Borne on usually erect stems, they emit a delicious pungent anise-like flavor and aroma and are commonly used as a culinary herb in classic French cuisine. Fresh or dried, the leaves can be used in salad dressings, fine herbs, sauces, and mayonnaise. They are also wonderful with cooked dishes such as fish, turkey, chicken, veal, and egg dishes. Elongated panicles of small, nodding, pale yellow flowers bloom in late summer. They rarely set seed, particularly in cool climates. French tarragon is cold-hardy and drought tolerant, however, it dislikes high humidity.

There is a closely related species, A. dracunculoides or Russian tarragon, which is quite inferior in flavor.

  • Grows up to 18-24 in. tall (45-60 cm) and 12-18 in. wide (30-45 cm). This plant will slowly spread by creeping rhizomes.
  • Thrives in full sun in dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils. Avoid overhead watering. Plants are longer lived, hardier and more aromatic when they are grown in a poor dry soil
  • This aromatic herb deserves a spot in herb gardens or in herb containers along with sage, rosemary, basil, or lavender.
  • Generally pest and disease free. Deer and rabbit resistant. 
  • Cut back in spring. Harvest your Tarragon leaves until mid-fall.
  • Propagate by seed or semi-hardwood cuttings in late summer. Dividing the clumps every 3-4 years will help keep plants robust.
  • Toxic to dogs, toxic to cats, toxic to horses.
  • Native to temperate Europe and Asia.

Requirements

Hardiness 3 - 7
Heat Zones 1 - 7
Climate Zones 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, A1, A2, A3
Plant Type Herbs, Perennials
Plant Family Compositae
Genus Artemisia
Common names Tarragon, French Tarragon, Dragon Plant, Estragon
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Fall
Height 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spread 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spacing 18" - 24"
(50cm - 60cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Low
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Fragrant, Showy
Tolerance Deer, Rabbit, Dry Soil
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Patio And Containers
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Artemisia
Guides with
Artemisia
Not sure which Artemisia to pick?
Compare Now

Alternative Plants to Consider

Artemisia absinthium (Wormwood)
Artemisia pycnocephala (Sand Hill Sage)
Artemisia douglasiana (Douglas Mugwort)
Artemisia frigida (Prairie Sagebrush)
Artemisia filifolia (Sand Sagebrush)
Artemisia tridentata (Big Sagebrush)

Recommended Companion Plants

Salvia officinalis ‘Purpurascens’ (Purple Sage)
Thymus vulgaris (Common Thyme)
Origanum ‘Kent Beauty’ (Ornamental Oregano)
Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary)

Find In One of Our Guides or Gardens

Artemisia (Wormwood)
Best Foliage Plants for Your Garden
Companion Planting With Herbs
Wonderful Plants That Repel Insects
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Buy Plants

Requirements

Hardiness 3 - 7
Heat Zones 1 - 7
Climate Zones 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, A1, A2, A3
Plant Type Herbs, Perennials
Plant Family Compositae
Genus Artemisia
Common names Tarragon, French Tarragon, Dragon Plant, Estragon
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Fall
Height 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spread 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spacing 18" - 24"
(50cm - 60cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Low
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Fragrant, Showy
Tolerance Deer, Rabbit, Dry Soil
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Patio And Containers
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Artemisia
Guides with
Artemisia
Not sure which Artemisia to pick?
Compare Now

Gardening Ideas

Plant Calculator

How many Artemisia dracunculus (French Tarragon) do I need for my garden?

Input your garden space dimensions

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Artemisia dracunculus (French Tarragon) N/A Buy Plants

Please Login to Proceed

You Have Reached The Free Limit, Please Subscribe to Proceed

Subscribe to Gardenia

To create additional collections, you must be a paid member of Gardenia
  • Add as many plants as you wish
  • Create and save up to 25 garden collections
Become a Member

Plant Added Successfully

You have Reached Your Limit

To add more plants, you must be a paid member of our site Become a Member

Update Your Credit
Card Information

Cancel

Create a New Collection

Sign Up to Our Newsletter

    You have been subscribed successfully

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Find your Hardiness Zone

    Find your Heat Zone

    Find your Climate Zone