Common Name: Mexican Tarragon

General Information

Mexican tarragon is an aromatic, erect, perennial plant with stems 30 - 75cm tall rising from a short, thick, woody base[].
The plant has a range of medicinal uses, being especially valued for its beneficial effect upon the digestive system.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

C. America - Mexico to Guatemala.

Habitat

Woods, hillsides and rocky slopes[]. Mostly in open grassy fields, frequently in oak forest, sometimes on dry rocky hillsides, at elevations from 1,000 - 2,000 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.80 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Requires a well-drained moderately fertile soil in a sunny position[]. Grows well in heavy clay soils and in sandy soils[].
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[].
The blooms are amongst the most sweetly-scented of all flowers[].
Removing dead flowers before the seed is formed will extend the flowering season[].
Plants are prone to slugs, snails and botrytis[].
Grows well with tomatoes[].

Edible Uses

The leaves are dried and ground into a powder then used as a tarragon substitute for flavouring soups, sauces etc[, , , ]. They have an anise-like flavour[, ]. The leaves were an important flavouring of 'chocolatl', the foaming cocoa-based drink of the Aztecs[].

The dried leaves and flowering tops are brewed into a pleasant anise-flavoured tea[]. This is a very popular drink in Latin America[].

The petals are used as a condiment[].

Medicinal

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

Agroforestry Uses:

Secretions from the roots of growing plants have an insecticidal effect on the soil, effective against nematodes and to some extent against keeled slugs[], they also have an effect against some persistent weeds such as couch grass[]. These secretions are produced about 3 - 4 months after sowing[]. The growing plant also has a repellent effect on various insect pests such as the asparagus beetle and bean weevils[, ].

Other Uses

A yellow dye is obtained from the flowers[].

The dried plant is burnt as an incense and to repel insects[]. The powdered leaves are often used to repel or destroy mosquitoes, hen lice, and other insects[].

Propagation

Seed - sow in situ, only just covering the seed. Germination usually takes place within 2 weeks.

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