Tarragon is a highly valued culinary herb known for its delicate, slightly peppery, and distinctive anise-like flavor. This aromatic quality makes it a fixture in classic French cuisine. The herb is recognizable by its slender, glossy green leaves, which are harvested to impart a fresh, complex taste to dishes.
The Nuanced Answer to Perennial or Annual
The question of whether tarragon is an annual or a perennial herb depends entirely on the specific variety and the local climate. A perennial plant lives for more than two years, while an annual completes its life cycle in a single growing season.
In moderate climates, certain types of tarragon reliably return year after year. However, in regions with severe winters or excessively hot, humid summers, even perennial varieties may struggle to thrive. Consequently, many gardeners treat the plant as a tender perennial or grow it as a seasonal annual.
Specific Varieties and Their Classification
The three herbs commonly referred to as tarragon are botanically distinct, which explains their differing life cycles and flavors. The most prized culinary variety is French tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus ‘Sativa’). This herbaceous perennial reliably returns in cold-to-mild climates, generally surviving in USDA Zones 4 through 8, but it requires winter dormancy and often fails in extreme heat.
French tarragon is highly valued because its leaves contain a high concentration of the aromatic compound estragole, giving it the purest anise flavor. Because this cultivar is sterile, it does not produce viable seeds and must be propagated using cuttings or root division.
Another type is Russian tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus), which is much hardier and more reliably perennial, tolerating colder temperatures than its French counterpart. While easy to grow from seed, its flavor is significantly milder and often described as grassy or inferior for cooking. Mexican mint marigold, or Mexican tarragon (Tagetes lucida), is a separate species. This variety is a tender perennial that tolerates heat and humidity where French tarragon struggles, making it an excellent culinary substitute in warmer regions.
Cultivation Differences Based on Lifecycle
Since French tarragon is a true perennial in suitable zones, it benefits from overwintering preparation in the fall. In colder regions, the stems should be cut back to a few inches above the soil line, and a layer of protective mulch should be applied to insulate the roots from deep freezes.
Proper drainage is important for perennial tarragon, as its fleshy roots are prone to rot if the soil remains waterlogged during winter dormancy. To maintain the vigor and flavor of French tarragon, the underground root clumps should be dug up and divided every three to four years.
Conversely, the heat-loving Mexican tarragon, though a perennial in tropical climates, is typically grown as an annual in temperate zones. Gardeners in areas with freezing winters must either replant it each spring or bring the plant indoors before the first frost. The ease of growing Russian tarragon from seed contrasts sharply with French tarragon, which requires a purchased plant or a cutting.