Common Name: Mexican Tarragon

General Information

Tagetes lucida 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

Southern N. America - Mexico, through C. America to Honduras

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

Tagetes lucida is found mainly in subtropical climates and is not very cold tolerant, There are forms that will tolerate temperatures occasionally falling to around -5°c for short periods, but will not usually survive an average winter in the temperate zone unless given some protection.
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 early spring 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.