Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus)

Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) is an herb that can grow 50cm – 1.5m tall and 10cm – 50cm wide. In this growing guide we’ll learn the cultivation details and how to plant Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus).

This plant has several common names including: tarragon, biting dragon, dragon plant or estragon.

This is a deciduous plant that takes 2-5 years to reach full maturity.

Plant profile

Common name: tarragon, biting dragon, dragon plant, estragon
Scientific name: Artemisia dracunculus
Plant type: Herbs, Perennials
Habit: Columnar / Upright
Height: 50cm – 1.5m
Spread: 10cm – 50cm
Foliage: Deciduous
Sunlight: Full Sun
Soil: Loam, Sand
Moisture: Well drained
Garden type: Informal Garden
Planting type: Flower borders and bedding, Low Maintenance

Seasonal colors

How to plant Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) – KENPEI, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

How to plant

In this section we will learn how to plant Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus), know its needs in terms of soil, watering and sun exposure.

Soil

Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) is a plant that prefers to grow in loam or sand.

• The loam soil is dark, rich in organic matter but balanced in minerals. It offers the best of all worlds, retaining enough water for the plants, but allowing excess moisture to drain away. This is the most desired type of garden soil, perfect for most plants.

• Sandy soil is light, porous and very easy to drain. It is a soil poor in organic matter and nutrients. It is composed of relatively large mineral particles that allow water to drain quickly.

It is not very sensitive to soil acidity or alkalinity and grows well in soils with pH acid, alkaline or neutral.

Regarding drainage, Artemisia dracunculus likes to grow in well drained soil.

Sunlight

Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) should be grown in full sun places.

Cultivation profiles – Growing Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) – I, KENPEI, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons