Is Mexican tarragon the same plant as French tarragon?

No, they're unrelated plants in different genera that happen to share a similar anise/licorice flavour note. French tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus var. sativa) is the classic culinary herb of French cuisine but is notoriously difficult to grow — it rarely produces viable seed and is typically only marginally hardy in Canada. Mexican tarragon (Tagetes lucida) is in the marigold family, grown easily from seed, and offers a similar flavour, though not identical.

Why is French tarragon so hard to grow from seed in Canada?

True French tarragon is a sterile cultivar that essentially never produces viable seed — most 'French tarragon seed' sold is actually Russian tarragon, a different, much blander variety, or mislabeled entirely. Genuine French tarragon must be propagated from cuttings or root divisions of an established plant, and even then it's only borderline hardy in much of Canada, needing excellent winter drainage to survive. This combination of difficulty makes it a frustrating herb for many home gardeners.

When should I plant Mexican tarragon in Canada?

Direct sow or transplant after your last frost date once soil has warmed, similar timing to basil and other heat-loving herbs — it has no frost tolerance. Starting seed indoors 6–8 weeks before last frost gives a head start, useful in shorter-season regions.

Is Mexican tarragon hardy in Canada?

No — Mexican tarragon is tender (roughly Zone 8–9) and must be grown as an annual across virtually all of Canada, replanted from seed each spring. Unlike French tarragon, though, it's genuinely easy and reliable to grow from seed every year, which removes the propagation frustration entirely.

Does Mexican tarragon taste exactly like French tarragon?

Close, but not identical — both share an anise/licorice note, but Mexican tarragon's flavour is often described as slightly more marigold-like or floral underneath the anise, a subtle difference most cooks find perfectly acceptable in dishes calling for tarragon. It substitutes well in most recipes, though a purist making a classic French bearnaise sauce may notice the difference.

Does Mexican tarragon have other uses beyond cooking?

Yes — it produces attractive yellow marigold-like flowers in late summer and fall (it is, after all, in the Tagetes/marigold genus), making it a useful dual-purpose plant for both the kitchen garden and as a late-season ornamental. It also attracts pollinators well during its bloom period, when many other garden flowers have finished.

CANADA GROWING GUIDE

Growing Mexican Tarragon in Canada — the Honest Substitute

French tarragon is famously hard to grow from seed and only marginally hardy here. Mexican tarragon is a different plant that solves both problems — easy from seed, heat-loving, and a genuinely close flavour match.

French tarragon disappoints a lot of Canadian gardeners — it rarely sets viable seed, most "tarragon seed" sold is actually a blander impostor, and even a correctly propagated plant is only borderline winter-hardy.

Mexican tarragon sidesteps all of that. It's an entirely different plant — easy from seed, heat-loving, and close enough in flavour that it's a genuinely good substitute rather than a consolation prize.

Growing Mexican tarragon in Canada: direct sow or transplant after last frost once soil is warm. Tender (Zone 8–9) — grow as an annual. Unlike French tarragon, it's genuinely easy from seed every year. Similar anise flavour, plus late-summer marigold-like flowers.

When should you plant mexican tarragon where you garden?

Get your city's frost dates, indoor seed-starting dates, and this week's planting jobs — three free tools.

📅 What to Plant Now ❄️ Frost Dates 🌱 Seed Starting

🌱 Need seeds? West Coast Seeds (a BC company) sells untreated, Canadian-grown herb seed.

🥦 Shop herb seeds at West Coast Seeds →

Why French Tarragon Frustrates Canadian Gardeners

True French tarragon is a sterile cultivar — it essentially never produces viable seed. Most seed packets labelled "tarragon" are actually Russian tarragon, a related but noticeably blander plant, or simply mislabeled. Real French tarragon has to come from cuttings or divisions of an already-established plant.

Mexican tarragon (Tagetes lucida) is an entirely different plant — a marigold relative, genuinely easy from seed, heat-loving, and close enough in flavour to substitute in most recipes.

Even a correctly propagated French tarragon plant is only borderline hardy in much of Canada and demands excellent winter drainage to survive at all. For most home gardeners, Mexican tarragon removes the frustration entirely while still delivering an anise-flavoured herb for the kitchen.