Mexican Mint Marigold (Tagetes lucida): Anise-Flavored Tarragon Substitute

Mexican Mint Marigold: Sweet Anise Herb for Hot Climates

Mexican mint marigold (Tagetes lucida), also called Spanish tarragon, Texas tarragon, sweet mace, or yerbanis, is a tender perennial herb with glossy, anise-scented leaves and small golden-orange flowers. It's a superb substitute for French tarragon in hot, humid climates where true tarragon struggles.

Botanical Profile

Native to Mexico and Central America, this marigold grows 18–30 inches tall. The leaves are narrow, serrated, and intensely sweet-anise flavored. Flowers appear in fall, attracting butterflies. It's day-length sensitive, blooming best as days shorten.

Uses and Cultivation

• Culinary: Fresh leaves in salads, sauces, vinegars, teas; replaces tarragon.
• Medicinal: Traditional use for digestive, respiratory, and nervous conditions.
• Companion plant: Repels nematodes and some insects.
• Ornamental: Fall blooms extend garden color.

Grow in full sun, well-drained soil. Drought tolerant once established. In zones 8 and colder, grow as annual or overwinter indoors. Pinch to encourage bushiness. Hardy in USDA zones 8–11.