Mexican Tarragon (Tagetes lucida)

Licorice-Sweet Herb with Golden Blooms

Mexican Tarragon (Tagetes lucida), also known as Mexican Mint Marigold, is a fragrant, golden-flowered herb native to Central America and a beloved culinary and medicinal plant with a bold, anise-like flavor. Often used as a heat-tolerant substitute for French tarragon, this plant thrives in hot, sunny gardens and is prized for its edible leaves and vibrant blooms.

Its narrow, glossy green leaves add a licorice-sweet punch to vinegars, herbal teas, sauces, eggs, and fish dishes. Bright yellow marigold-like flowers bloom throughout summer and fall, attracting butterflies, bees, and beneficial insects while adding color and cheer to herb gardens and landscape borders.

Cultural & Culinary Significance

Mexican Tarragon has a long history of traditional use in Mexico and Central America. The Aztecs used the plant in rituals, teas, and traditional remedies, giving this fragrant herb a rich connection to place and culture. Today, its leaves remain popular for their distinctive anise-like flavor and are used in teas, vinegars, sauces, eggs, and fish dishes.

Historical uses include preparations associated with digestive discomfort, colds, fever, and calming traditions surrounding nervios and susto. These uses are part of the plant’s ethnobotanical history and are shared for cultural and botanical interest, not as medical advice.

Why Grow Mexican Tarragon?

• Delicious heat-tolerant alternative to French tarragon
• Fragrant edible leaves bring a licorice-sweet flavor to dishes and teas
• Bright yellow flowers attract butterflies, bees, and beneficial insects
• Drought-tolerant and pest-resistant once established
• Beautiful culinary and medicinal herb for gardens or containers