Trying to Find French Tarragon

Lisa K

I have been trying to find plants or seeds for French Tarragon and all I can find is Russian or Mexican Tarragon.

Has anyone else have this problem or if you have found it and where?

Thanks,

Yes, this is a similar post I did in question form, but it looked negative as "Rejected" when Torey made a post (sorry @torey) so I then hit "Answered" but it really was not that is why I am starting it again but in a regular post so I can get comments from others.

judsoncarroll4

Yes, I find Russian tarragon everywhere, but French tarragon plants are very hard to find.

Lisa K

@judsoncarroll4 this happened a few years back and I was told that it was hard to keep the root stock going so I guess it is happening again. Darn!

marjstratton

I'm not that familiar with tarragon. What are the differences in flavor between the different types?

Lisa K

@marjstratton to me Tarragon has an anise taste and French Tarragon is stronger than Russian & Mexican Tarragon.

marjstratton

Sounds really good. I assume you have looked for seed, or are you needing it for cooking now and can't wait for it to grow?

judsoncarroll4

https://community.thegrownetwork.com/discussion/comment/914355#Comment_914355

I agree with Lisa. The French tarragon is more useful as a culinary herb. The Russian is more useful medicinally. Tarragon is in the wormwood family.

Herb: Tarragon

Latin name: Artemisia dracunculus

Family: Compositae

Medicinal use of Tarragon: Tarragon is a bitter warming aromatic herb that stimulates the digestive system and uterus, lowers fevers and destroys intestinal worms. It is little used in modern herbalism, though it is sometimes employed as an appetizer. The leaves (and an essential oil obtained from them) are antiscorbutic, diuretic, emmenagogue, hypnotic and stomachic. An infusion is used in the treatment of indigestion, flatulence, nausea, hiccups etc. The plant is mildly sedative and has been taken to aid sleep. It also has mild emmenagogue properties and can be used to induce a delayed period. A poultice can be used to relieve rheumatism, gout, arthritis and toothache. The plant is harvested in the summer and can be dried for later use. This herb should not be prescribed for pregnant women. The root has been used to cure toothache. The essential oil is used in aromatherapy to treat digestive and menstrual problems.

Torey

Tarragon vinegar makes an excellent base for salad dressings; getting in that digestive aid as food medicine.

Wild tarragon grows a short distance away from my house in a slightly different climate zone and its ready for harvesting now. We have a few days of dry weather coming this weekend so I hope to get out picking on Saturday.

@marjstratton It grows in Washington, although you might have to go inland to find it. Its found along dry clay banks above rivers. Common along the Upper Central Fraser River and throughout the Okanagan Valley in BC so down through Okanogan County in Washington, near Colville and into the Methow Valley.

This is a pic of it later in the season so it has flowered and is going to seed. This is typical habitat for wild tarragon but not necessarily quite this close to water. I have found it in very dry soil.

This one is a closeup of the leaves, earlier in the year before flowering.

I have French Tarragon in my garden but I like harvesting this wild one and find I use it more than the domestic variety. I have Russian Tarragon, too. It was banished from the garden a few years ago when I acquired the French variety so it now resides in an untended part of an old flower bed and is doing quite well on its own. It seems to be much hardier and more drought tolerant than the French.

This is a link to an atlas page with a map to click on and expand. As you will see, it is even more common in the south and mid western states. So maybe more of you might have it in your areas.

https://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Artemisia%20dracunculus&redblue=Both&lifeform=7

Lisa K

Thanks @judsoncarroll4 I did not know that Russian Tarragon was more for medicinal uses.

Wow @torey you are sooooo lucky to have some much and what looks to be healthy Tarragon!

marjstratton

@torey Thanks for the pictures and information. I have probably brushed past wild Tarragon when I have been foraging for other plants and not realized what it was. Will need to get to know it better for the next time I head east of the mountains.