Summary: Tagetes lucida (Sweet-Mace) is a plant in the Asteraceae family. Verdica documents 18 traditional uses, 77 phytochemical compounds, and 25 herb-drug interactions for this species.
Tagetes lucida, Mexican Tarragon is a shrubby, herbaceous perennial growing to 1m (3ft) native to Mexico and South America and cultivated worldwide. In colder hardiness zones it is grown as an annual. Mexican Tarragon is in the same genus as Marigolds, which includes the annuals African Marigold (T. erecta), Irish Lace (T. filifolia), Licorice marigold (T. micrantha) and French Marigold (T. patula). The leaves were a strong flavouring of 'chocolatl', the foaming cocoa-based drink of the Aztecs. The anise-like flavoured leaves are dried and ground into a powder, then used as a tarragon substitute for flavouring soups and sauces. The dried leaves and flowering tops are brewed into a pleasant anise-flavoured tea. The flower petals are used as a condiment. Harvesting: Leaves throughout the growing season, typically in spring and summer, just before flowering for the best flavour. Flowers in summer to early autumn.
| Sunlight | Full sun to partial shade |
| Watering | Moderate — water when top inch of soil is dry |
| Soil | Well-drained, average fertility |
| Hardiness Zone | Varies widely (USDA 3-11) |
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