Tarragon
Artemisia dracunculus
The name 'dracunculus' means 'little dragon,' referring to the plant's serpentine, twisting root system.
- Scientific name
- Artemisia dracunculus
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Asterales › Asteraceae › Artemisia
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- grassland
- Habitat
- Dry meadows, rocky hillsides, and steppes with well-drained soil.
- Diet
- Photosynthetic (sunlight, water, and minerals from soil).
- Range
- North America, Eurasia, Northern Africa
- Size
- 60 cm to 150 cm in height.
- Lifespan
- 3 to 10 years depending on the subspecies.
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Agricultural expansion and land development.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless. Safe to touch and smell. If foraging, ensure identification is certain as some wild relatives are bitter or mildly toxic. No special medical care needed for contact.
Tarragon ( Artemisia dracunculus ), also known as estragon , is a species of perennial herb in the sunflower family. It is widespread in the wild across much of Eurasia and North America, and is cultivated for culinary and medicinal purposes.
Photo: Steve Matson, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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