Herb: Russian Tarragon


Latin name: Artemisia dracunculoides


Family: Compositae



Medicinal use of Russian Tarragon:

The herb is antiscorbutic, diuretic, emmenagogue, hypnotic and stomachic. The fresh herb is eaten to promote the appetite.

Description of the plant:



Plant:
Perennial


Height:
100 cm
(3 1/4 foot)

Flowering:
September

Habitat of the herb:

Prairies, plains and dry slopes.

Edible parts of Russian Tarragon:

Leaves - raw or cooked. The N. American Indians would bake the leaves between hot stones and then eat them with salt water. The leaves can also be eaten raw in salads but are inferior to A. dracunculus (Tarragon). The flavour is said to improve as the plant matures. Seed - raw or cooked. An oily texture. The seed is very small and fiddly to use.

Other uses of the herb:

Both the growing and the dried plant repels insects.

Propagation of Russian Tarragon:

Seed - surface sow from late winter to early summer in a greenhouse. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. Division in spring or autumn. Very easy, the divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions f required. Basal cuttings in late spring. Harvest the shoots when 10 - 15cm long, pot them up in a greenhouse and plant out when well rooted. Very easy.

Cultivation of the herb:

Prairies, plains and dry slopes.

Known hazards of Artemisia dracunculoides:

Although no reports of toxicity have been seen for this species, skin contact with some members of this genus can cause dermatitis or other allergic reactions in some people.

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.