Plant Details

Artemisia dracunculus

Tarragon

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Common names

37 names · 29 languages
EnglishYour language
Other languages (28)
Dutch
French
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • pelyněk estragon[2]
Danish
Estonian
Finnish
German
Greek
  • Αρτεμισία η δρακόντειος[2]
Hebrew
  • טרגון[2]
  • לענת הטרגון[2]
Hungarian
Japanese
  • エストラゴン[2]
Laadan
Lithuanian
  • Peletrūnas[2]
  • Vaistinis kietis[2]
Mongolian
  • Ишгэн шарилж[2]
Norwegian
Ojibwe
  • Ba’sibûgûk’ (O’gima’wûck)[2]
Persian
  • ترخون[2]
Polish
  • Bylica draganek[2]
  • Bylica estragon[2]
  • Estragon[2]
Portuguese
Romanian
Russian
  • Полынь эстрагон[2]
  • Тархун[2]
Slovak
  • palina dračia[2]
Spanish
Swedish
Turkish
Ukrainian
  • Полин-естрагон[2]
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Artemisia dracunculus L. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Estragon (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 143449; taxon GW9Y.
  • Tarragon (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 143450; taxon GW9Y.
[2] Artemisia dracunculus — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Tarragon — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 57912; Artemisia dracunculus.
  • estragón — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 57912; Artemisia dracunculus.
  • estragon — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 57912; Artemisia dracunculus.
  • Estragão — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 57912; Artemisia dracunculus.
  • Dragonne — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 57912; Artemisia dracunculus.
  • Estragon — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 57912; Artemisia dracunculus.
  • Tárkony — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 57912; Artemisia dracunculus.
  • Αρτεμισία η δρακόντειος — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 57912; Artemisia dracunculus.
  • Полынь эстрагон — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 57912; Artemisia dracunculus.
  • Dragon (växt) — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 57912; Artemisia dracunculus.
  • Tarhon — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 57912; Artemisia dracunculus.
  • pelyněk estragon — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 57912; Artemisia dracunculus.
  • estragon — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 57912; Artemisia dracunculus.
  • estragonpuju — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 57912; Artemisia dracunculus.
  • estragon — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 57912; Artemisia dracunculus.
  • rakuuna — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 57912; Artemisia dracunculus.
  • Vaistinis kietis — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 57912; Artemisia dracunculus.
  • エストラゴン — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 57912; Artemisia dracunculus.
  • Peletrūnas — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 57912; Artemisia dracunculus.
  • 龙蒿 — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 57912; Artemisia dracunculus.
  • dragon — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 57912; Artemisia dracunculus.
  • Dragon — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 57912; Artemisia dracunculus.
  • abash — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 57912; Artemisia dracunculus.
  • Ba’sibûgûk’ (O’gima’wûck) — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 57912; Artemisia dracunculus.
  • tarhun — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 57912; Artemisia dracunculus.
  • Ишгэн шарилж — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 57912; Artemisia dracunculus.
  • 龍蒿 — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 57912; Artemisia dracunculus.
  • estragon — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 57912; Artemisia dracunculus.
  • Bylica draganek — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 57912; Artemisia dracunculus.
  • Bylica estragon — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 57912; Artemisia dracunculus.
  • Estragon — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 57912; Artemisia dracunculus.
  • לענת הטרגון — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 57912; Artemisia dracunculus.
  • טרגון — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 57912; Artemisia dracunculus.
  • Тархун — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 57912; Artemisia dracunculus.
  • palina dračia — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 57912; Artemisia dracunculus.
  • ترخون — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 57912; Artemisia dracunculus.
  • Полин-естрагон — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 57912; Artemisia dracunculus.

General information

Scientific name: Artemisia dracunculus
Accepted name (Kew): Artemisia dracunculus L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Asteraceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Artemisia (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Tarragon
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.3–0.91 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 0.3–0.46 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Moderate
Sources [3]
Foliage: None
Growth habit: Clumping, Creeping

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]
Life cycle: Perennial
Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Very Dry

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [3]
pH:
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Full sun
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, Condiment, Flowers
Edibility rating:
(4)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
Essential oil, Repellent, Fragrant

Description

Leaves of tarragon can be eaten raw or used as a seasoning in soups and other dishes. Tarragon is a widely used herb found in many traditional recipes. It is valued for its positive influence on digestion and is often combined with fatty foods. The leaves can be harvested in late summer and dried for later use. They have an aromatic and delicious flavor with a slight hint of licorice, making them an excellent addition to salads. The young shoots can also be cooked and used as a vegetable. Additionally, the leaves can serve as flavoring for vinegar, and essential oil from the leaves is used for extra flavor.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/08
Harvest ends: 30/09

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 555173; name ID 3133635; Artemisia L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 160146; name ID 2901163; Artemisia dracunculus L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Artemisia dracunculus

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 4853182, ID GW9Y: Artemisia dracunculus L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Artemisia dracunculus — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .