Tagetes lucida
| Tagetes lucida | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 9 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 3' |
| Width: | 1' |
| Blooms: | Late Summer-Early Fall |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Tagetes lucida (common name: mexican tarragon)
Propagation: Seed - sow March in a greenhouse. Only just cover the seed. Germination usually takes place within 2 weeks. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out after the last expected frosts.
Basal cuttings in spring. Remove young shoots when about 5 - 10 cm tall, making sure to get as much of the underground stem as possible. Pot up into a sandy soil and keep in light shade until roots are formed, which usually takes 2- 3 weeks.
Cultivation: Requires a well-drained moderately fertile soil in a sunny position[1]. Grows well in heavy clay soils and in sandy soils[2].
Plants in general are not very cold-hardy when grown outdoors in Britain, though some forms will survive outdoors at least in the milder areas of the country. We have plants grown from seed collected in Oregon that have proved hardy to at least -5°c[K].
A very ornamental plant, there are some named varieties. 'Huichol' is a traditional clone used by the Huichol Indians that grows at an elevation of 1500 - 1800m in Mexico[3].
The blooms are amongst the most sweetly-scented of all flowers[4].
Removing dead flowers before the seed is formed will extend the flowering season[2].
Plants are prone to slugs, snails and botrytis[2].
Grows well with tomatoes[5].
Range: C. and S. America - Mexico to Guatemala.
Habitat: Woods, hillsides and rocky slopes[6].
Edibility: The leaves are dried and ground into a powder then used as a tarragon substitute for flavouring soups, sauces etc[7][8][9][3]. They have an anise-like flavour[10][K]. The leaves were an important flavouring of 'chocolatl', the foaming cocoa-based drink of the Aztecs[10].
The dried leaves and flowering tops are brewed into a pleasant anise-flavoured tea[3]. This is a very popular drink in Latin America[10].
The petals are used as a condiment[11].
Medicinal: The leaves and whole plant are digestive, diuretic, febrifuge, hypotensive, narcotic, sedative and stimulant[9][6][1][10]. Use of the plant depresses the central nervous system, whilst it is also reputedly anaesthetic and hallucinogenic[10]. It is used internally in the treatment of diarrhoea, nausea, indigestion, colic, hiccups, malaria and feverish illnesses[10]. Externally, it is used to treat scorpion bites and to remove ticks[10]. The leaves can be harvested and used as required, whilst the whole plant is harvested when in flower and dried for later use[10].
Usage: Secretions from the roots of growing plants have an insecticidal effect on the soil, effective against nematodes and to some extent against keeled slugs[1], they also have an effect against some persistent weeds such as couch grass[12]. These secretions are produced about 3 - 4 months after sowing[1]. The growing plant also has a repellent effect on various insect pests such as the asparagus beetle and bean weevils[12][5].
A yellow dye is obtained from the flowers[13].
The dried plant is burnt as an incense and to repel insects[10].
Pollinators: Insects
Notes: Try it in a sunny position in the bed by the road. There would be no charge for this plant if you kept us informed on how it does with you.
We can supply in the spring.
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Heavy Clay: Grows in heavy-clay soils.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Brickell, Christopher. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers. Dorling Kindersley Publishers, 1990.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Riotte, Louise. Carrots Love Tomatoes. Garden Way, 1978.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Emboden, William. Narcotic Plants. Studio Vista, 1979.
- ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ Vilmorin-Andrieux. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Natural Food Institute. Wonder Crops 1987.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7 10.8 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Hylton, Josie and William Holtom. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press, 1979.
- ↑ Buchanan, Rita. A Weavers Garden.