French Tarragon: Taxonomy, Ideal Growing Conditions, Care Tips, Pests & Problems

Artemisia dracunculus var. sativa, or French tarragon, is often attributed as true tarragon and is cultivated in Europe and North America. The plant gets its name dracunculus, which translates to “small dragon” in Latin, from its slender, tongue-shaped leaves. The plant was traditionally used as medicine for treating fever, gastric ailments, menstrual problems, toothache, and allergic rashes. 

This easy-to-grow plant grows best in sunny or partially sunny areas in well-drained soil. The plant thrives best in the spring season and does not do well in very hot weather. 

Read the article to learn about tarragon plant taxonomy, ideal growing conditions, care tips, and much more. 

Taxonomy and Ideal Growing Conditions for the French Tarragon

French tarragon is a pollinator-friendly perennial herb that grows best in humid and slightly warm weather. The plant is drought-tolerant and can survive in poor soil. The plant’s leaves typically measure up to 3 inches long and offer a fine and smooth texture. 

For more general information, here is the taxonomic overview and ideal growing conditions of the plant: 

Botanical name	Artemisia dracunculus var. sativa
Common names	Tarragon
Kingdom	Plantae
Order	Asterales
Family	Asteraceae (Daisy, aster, or sunflower family)
Genus	Artemisia (wormwood and sagebrush)
Species	Artemisia dracunculus (Tarragon)
Native area	North America and Eurasia
Season of interest	Summer
Hardiness	4 to 8 USDA zones
Light Requirements	Full to partial sunlight
Maintenance	Low
Type	Perennial herb
Soil	Well-drained, rich loam, sandy soil with alkaline, acidic, or neutral pH levels between 6.5 and 7.5.
Characteristics	Showy, fragrant
Water Requirements	Moderate
Mature size	2 to 4 ft. tall and 1 to 2 ft. wide
Tolerant	Dry soil
Fertilizers	Low feeder
Toxicity	Toxic for dogs and cats

Read more: How to Grow Cucumbers at Home? Planting, Care and Harvesting Explained

French Tarragon Herb Care Tips

Tarragon lives for around 2 to 4 years if properly cared for. Here are some of the essential plant care tips that helped my herb grow steadily and healthily:

1. Choose a sunny location. 
2. Use well-drained soil with a pH level between 6.5 and 7.5.
3. Ensure that you plant French tarragon using the stem-cutting method or root divisions. This is because the plant does not produce viable seeds.
4. The best way to grow tarragon is in a container in cooler regions.
5. Water the plant regularly after planting. Once the plant establishes, keep the soil moist. It also becomes drought-tolerant with time. 
6. Do not feed the soil with fertilizers, as it can reduce the herb flavour. The best way is to apply a lighter layer of compost or a diluted balanced fertilizer in spring. 
7. Mulching around the plant base helps the soil to retain moisture and manage soil temperature. 

Read more: How to Grow Basil? Learn How to Plant This Culinary Herb in your Garden

How to Grow French Tarragon?

The best way to grow French tarragon is by propagation. Here are a few simple steps involved in French tarragon propagation by stem cuttings:

1. Take healthy softwood or semi-ripe cuttings of around 6 to 8 inches in late spring or mid-summer.
2. Remove the lower leaves.
3. Place the stem in a moist potting mix. 
4. Place it in a warm and humid spot until roots form.
5. Now you can either transplant the rooted stems or let them grow in the same pot. 
6. Harvest the herb once the plant grows up to 6 inches tall. This will provide you with the best flavor and tender leaves. 

Tips for harvesting 

• Use clean and sharp scissors to prevent damage. 
• Avoid harvesting more than one-third of the plant at a time to prevent stress.
• Handle the tarragon leaves gently because they are delicate and bruise easily.

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French Tarragon vs. Russian Tarragon

French tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus var. sativa) and Russian tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) are two varieties of tarragon that are often misunderstood as one. While French tarragon provides a rich, sweet liquorice flavour, Russian tarragon has a mild, grassy, and slightly bitter taste. Here is the list that shows the difference between the two:

Basis of difference	French tarragon	Russian tarragon
Height	30 to 90 cm tall	Up to 1.5 meters
Leaves	Dark blue-green leaves	Pale green and coarser or spikier leaves
Grows/propagated from	Root division, stem-cutting	Seeds
Flavour	Rich, sweet liquorice flavour	Mild, grassy, and slightly bitter flavour

Pests and Problems Associated With the Tarragon French Plant 

Planting tarragon is low-maintenance. This aromatic herb has the potential to repel pests naturally, yet some pests and diseases might still attack your plant. Here is the list of pests and problems that I witnessed with my tarragon plant as a beginner:

Pests, diseases, and problems	Solution
Aphids, scale insects, and mealybugs	These insects can appear as small sap-sucking insects that cluster on the new growth, small bumps, and cotton-like insects, respectively, that feed on the plant sap. To get rid of them, use insecticidal soap or organic pesticides like neem oil. Tip: Introduce ladybugs for aphids and use rubbing alcohol for mealybugs.
Leafhoppers	They may spread disease to your sapling. Use row covers or insecticidal spray to get rid of leafhoppers.
Spider mites	Spider mites cause yellowing leaves and webbing. They can be repelled by keeping humidity high and regularly washing the leaves.
Whiteflies	Whiteflies are small flying insects that feed on plant sap and may spread diseases. Using sticky traps or neem oil helps get rid of them.
Black rot	Black rot is a fungal disease that causes dark lesions in stems and leaves. It can be prevented by improving drainage and avoiding overhead watering.
Root rot and Fusarium crown	Root rot and Fusarium crown lead to browning, root decay, and wilting. You can prevent it by ensuring proper drainage.
Rust	It looks like orange or brown pustules on the underside of the leaves. It can be prevented by removing affected foliage and using an appropriate fungicide.

Read more: How to Start a Garden From Scratch? Simple Steps for First-Time Gardeners

Best and Worst Tarragon Plant Companions 

When you grow an herb or vegetable, it becomes essential that you pair it with the right companions. This helps your plant thrive effectively and efficiently. 

The best companions for tarragon plants include those plants that attract pollinators, repel pests, and thrive in similar weather conditions. 

These can be flowering plants like marigolds, calendula, chamomile, and nasturtiums; vegetables like tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, beans, broccoli, cabbage, and asparagus; and herbs like basil, borage, chives, parsley, oregano, and rosemary. Here are the reasons why these plants are a perfect match with French tarragon:

1. Vegetables like eggplant, cabbage, broccoli, etc have the ability to repel harmful insects. 
2. Beans and asparagus act as protective companions. 
3.  Herbs like chives and parsley, and flowers like marigolds, help attract pollinators to your garden.

The worst companion plants for French tarragon are fennel and mint. They grow aggressively and take over the space. Therefore, you must avoid planting them with tarragon. 

Read more: Koriandri: Taxonomy, Ideal Growing Conditions, and Care Tips

Takeaways 

French tarragon is a herbaceous perennial that requires direct to partial sunlight, moderate watering, and rich, well-drained soil with neutral to acidic pH levels. The herb can be planted with broccoli, parsley, chives, cabbage, marigolds, and many more flowering plants, vegetables, and herbs for healthy plant growth.

Regular inspection, proper soil and watering, and organic pest controls manage plant growth. Tarragon is native to Europe, Asia, and North America and is widely used in French cuisine and is considered to be the most flavourful variety of herbs.

Next season, you can definitely plant your French tarragon plant either by stem-cutting or the root division method. 

Happy planting!

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