Practical
Plants

Tagetes lucida

Mexican Tarragon

a perennial member of the Tagetes genus in the family Compositae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Tagetes
Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.8 m
Spread
0.4 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The leaves are dried and ground into a powder then used as a tarragon substitute for flavouring soups, sauces etc[7][12][2][4]. They have an anise-like flavour[238, K]. The leaves were an important flavouring of 'chocolatl', the foaming cocoa-based drink of the Aztecs[10]. The dried leaves and flowering tops are brewed into a pleasant anise-flavoured tea[4]. This is a very popular drink in Latin America[10]. The petals are used as a condiment[13].

Product or use
Condiment
Product or use
Tea

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The leaves and whole plant are digestive, diuretic, febrifuge, hypotensive, narcotic, sedative and stimulant[2][6][9][10]. Use of the plant depresses the central nervous system, whilst it is also reputedly anaesthetic and hallucinogenic[10]. It is used internally in the treatment of diarrhoea, nausea, indigestion, colic, hiccups, malaria and feverish illnesses[10]. Externally, it is used to treat scorpion bites and to remove ticks[10]. The leaves can be harvested and used as required, whilst the whole plant is harvested when in flower and dried for later use[10].

Product or use
Anaesthetic
Product or use
Digestive
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Hallucinogenic
Product or use
Hypotensive
Product or use
Narcotic
Product or use
Sedative

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Secretions from the roots of growing plants have an insecticidal effect on the soil, effective against nematodes and to some extent against keeled slugs[9], they also have an effect against some persistent weeds such as couch grass[1]. These secretions are produced about 3 - 4 months after sowing[9]. The growing plant also has a repellent effect on various insect pests such as the asparagus beetle and bean weevils[1][8]. A yellow dye is obtained from the flowers[3]. The dried plant is burnt as an incense and to repel insects[10].

Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Herbicide
Product or use
Incense
Product or use
Insecticide
Product or use
Repellent

Environment

Range
C. and S. America - Mexico to Guatemala.
Habitat
Woods, hillsides and rocky slopes[6].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 9+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow March in a greenhouse. Only just cover the seed. Germination usually takes place within 2 weeks. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out after the last expected frosts. Basal cuttings in spring. Remove young shoots when about 5 - 10 cm tall, making sure to get as much of the underground stem as possible. Pot up into a sandy soil and keep in light shade until roots are formed, which usually takes 2- 3 weeks.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a well-drained moderately fertile soil in a sunny position[9]. Grows well in heavy clay soils and in sandy soils[5]. Plants in general are not very cold-hardy when grown outdoors in Britain, though some forms will survive outdoors at least in the milder areas of the country. We have plants grown from seed collected in Oregon that have proved hardy to at least -5°c[K]. A very ornamental plant, there are some named varieties. 'Huichol' is a traditional clone used by the Huichol Indians that grows at an elevation of 1500 - 1800m in Mexico[4]. The blooms are amongst the most sweetly-scented of all flowers[11]. Removing dead flowers before the seed is formed will extend the flowering season[5]. Plants are prone to slugs, snails and botrytis[5]. Grows well with tomatoes[8].

References

  1. Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-87857-262-7

    ↩1↩2

  2. Natural Food Institute, Wonder Crops. 1987.

    ↩1↩2

  3. Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden.

    ↩

  4. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩1↩2↩3

  6. Emboden. W. Narcotic Plants Studio Vista 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-289-70864-8

    ↩1↩2

  7. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

  8. Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978-00-00 ISBN 0-88266-064-0

    ↩1↩2

  9. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  10. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8

  11. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩

  12. Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press ISBN 0-89815-041-8

    ↩

  13. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

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