Tagetes lucida aka Mexican Mint Marigold

Tagetes lucida is known as Mexican tarragon or sweet mace. It belongs to the daisy family, Asteraceae. Its native range runs from Mexico south to Honduras. It grows in woods, grassland, and on rocky slopes. This tender perennial forms a bush with many upright stems. Gardeners grow it as an annual where winters are cold.

Plants reach about 1.6–2.5 feet [0.5–0.75 metres] in many gardens. The RHS gives an upper height of 3.3 feet [1 metre]. Spread can reach 1.6 feet [0.5 metres]. The stems rise from a short, thick, woody base. Glossy green leaves grow in pairs along the stems. They are narrow to oblong, with small teeth along their edges. Leaves reach about 0.25 feet [0.075 metres] long. They have an anise scent and lose their leaves seasonally.

Small yellow flower heads form clusters at the stem tips. Each head has three to five yellow ray florets. The flowers have a sweet scent and attract butterflies. Insects pollinate them. Bloom falls in late summer and autumn, including August and September. Removing spent heads can keep flowers coming for longer. The fruit is a slim, black achene. Its tip carries a few bristles and shorter scales.

Give Mexican tarragon full sun and soil that drains well. It grows in sand, loam, and clay. It accepts acid, neutral, or alkaline soil. It tolerates dry spells but also grows in moist, drained soil. North Carolina State lists USDA zones 8–11. The RHS gives it a UK hardiness rating of H3. Protect perennial plants from frost in colder sites. Grow new plants from seed and cut back after flowering. Its growth rate is moderate, and routine care needs are low.

Use it in herb beds, flower borders, or pots. It also suits paths, patios, and cottage gardens. Deer resistance adds to its value in exposed gardens. Fresh or dried leaves season soups and sauces like tarragon. Flowers and leafy flowering tops can make an anise-flavoured tea. The leaves also flavoured the Aztecs’ cocoa drink. Sources record medicinal use, but this does not establish safe treatment. Large amounts can cause harm when eaten. Sap on damaged skin can cause burns or blisters in sunlight. The flowers’ scent may irritate the nose and eyes. Slugs and snails can damage seedlings. Glasshouse red spider mites may also attack plants. Disease is uncommon, though Botrytis can occur.