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Tagetes lucida
Mexican tarragon (species) · Cavanilles, 1795-1796, Mexico to Honduras
At‑a‑glance
- Group/Class: Mexican tarragon (species)
- Height × spread: 6-30 in × 6-18 in (15-75 cm × 15-45 cm)
- Bloom window: late summer to fall
- Color & flower form: Yellow; small single daisies under 1 in
- Fragrance: 2 noticeable
- USDA hardiness: zones 8-11; grown as annual elsewhere
- Breeder / Year / Origin: Cavanilles, 1795-1796, Mexico to Honduras
- Pet safety: avoid
How it differs
- Perennial option in warm zones rather than a strictly annual bedding plant.
- Later bloom season compared with many marigolds.
- Aromatic foliage with an anise‑like note.
- Narrow leaves and airy clusters create a lighter texture.
Strengths
- Tolerates heat and periods of drought once established.
- Manages a wide soil pH range.
- Provides late‑season color for borders and herb beds.
- Often deer resistant.
Care in one minute
Full sun; light, well‑drained soil.
Water to establish; then moderate irrigation.
Light spring feeding; avoid heavy nitrogen.
Shear after first flush to keep compact.
In zones 8-11, cut back after frost and mulch crowns lightly.
Watch‑outs
- Frost sensitive; dies back or fails outside its hardiness range.
- Slugs and snails can chew young growth.
- Plant sap may irritate skin in sensitive people.
Best uses (tags)
Provenance note
Published by Cavanilles in the late 1790s; native from Mexico to Honduras and cultivated as an ornamental herb.
References
- NC State Extension – Tagetes lucida
- IPNI – Tagetes lucida publication note
- UC ANR – Tagetes spp. plant safely note
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