Plotwright
Home
French tarragon
Habit (mature) · David J. Stang / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Limited coverage
French tarragon
Artemisia dracunculus 'Sativa'
French tarragon is the culinary clone of Artemisia dracunculus, grown for the pungent anise-like flavor and aroma of its narrow, glossy green leaves — the defining herb of béarnaise sauce and classic French fines herbes. It is a shrubby, rhizome-spreading perennial that rarely flowers and sets effectively sterile seed, so it is propagated only by cuttings or division rather than from seed. Unlike its wild parent species and the inferior Russian tarragon, this 'Sativa' selection holds the true tarragon flavor.
Review: Source-backed
Climate fit: narrow (31/100)
Edible
Border
Container
Light
Full sun
Water
Low water
Mature size
18-36" tall · 18" apart
Hardy in zones
5a-8b
very cold to frosty winters
Summer heat range
Mild-Warm
mild to warm summers Interim Plotwright tier until the plant AHS range is authored.
Native in Illinois
No
Related products
Sponsored
Drainage and aeration
Perlite, pumice, raised-bed mix, aerators, and drainage-focused containers.
Search drainage and aeration on Amazon
Wildlife protection
Bird netting, deer fencing, rabbit guards, trunk guards, and crop covers.
Search wildlife protection on Amazon
Container growing
Grow bags, planters, potting mix, saucers, casters, and container irrigation.
Search container growing on Amazon
Transplanting and establishment
Trowels, transplant spades, starter fertilizer, root stimulators, and watering bags.
Search transplanting and establishment on Amazon
Seed starting
Trays, cells, humidity domes, heat mats, grow lights, and seed-starting mix.
Search seed starting on Amazon
Harvest and processing
Harvest baskets, berry bowls, canning gear, drying racks, and kitchen garden tools.
Search harvest and processing on Amazon
Plotwright may earn a commission from purchases made through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Missouri Botanical Garden notes the leaves are fragrant and the plant tolerates rabbit, deer, drought, and dry soil, but is susceptible to root rot in moist soils and does not always survive St. Louis winters when drainage is poor.
Climate notes
Cold hardiness
Now
Zone 6b
USDA
Chicago, IL · 1991-2020 average annual coldest day
Source: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (1991-2020 climatology) via ArcGIS FeatureServer
Well-suited
2050
Zone 7b
Plotwright
Your zone + climate-model shift · SSP3-7.0 (regional rivalry)
Well-suited
In plain terms: cold winters — coldest nights typically around -3°F.
Well-suited today and still thriving in 2050.
Heat tolerance
Loading current AHS heat-zone and plant heat-fit data at your coordinates…
Sources & citations
Cite this page
For lesson plans, articles, or research that uses this page. To cite a single upstream fact instead, use its specific source listed below.
Plotwright. (2026, May 17). French tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus 'Sativa'). Retrieved 2026, June 5, from https://plotwright.garden/plants/french-tarragon
Sources for every fact
Every fact on this page traces to a source. 18 fields cited18 source-backed.
Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder
Botanical research database
Backs 17 fields
Identity
Summary
Plant type
Light
Moisture
Hardiness
Heat zone
Size
Spacing
Habit
Design roles
Seasonal interest
Growth stages
Lifecycle
Regional guidance
Success tips
Designer notes
Wikimedia Commons
Photo · CC BY-SA 4.0
Backs 1 field
Image
Community photos
The photos above are our reviewed reference set, curated for accuracy.
Plotwright
Climate-aware plant planning — every plant checked against your zone now and in 2050.
support@arteractive.co
© 2026 Plotwright