The genus Artemisia is found in the sunflower family Asteraceae and there are over 200 species found around the world in the northern hemisphere. Well, there are a few oddballs that show up elsewhere, but mainly the northern hemisphere. In Arizona A. dracunculus is one of the 14 species of Artemisia found in the wild.
Our native tarragon isn’t going to compete with the domesticated Old World cultivars in flavor, but I’m guessing one could start finding the more spicy wild plants and come up with some nice selections.
At our place I could be out on the land for along time looking for pungency among the kazillion plants. As the King of Tarragonia I’m thinking I will need some serfs…er, helpers to do the taste tests. Lemme know if that interests you. You’ll be working on the new flavorful borderlands tarragon called Little Dragon.
Many thanks to my son in law Jared McKinley and Richard Felger for reminding me that the plant really is tarragon. Really!
The photos are mine taken of last years stems here Tarragonia and also of the new shoots emerging and growing.
Turkey vultures (Cathartes aura) are wonderful and lots of folks agree. The little town of Bisbee in the Mule Mountains of Cochise County, Arizona...
The genus Asclepias is in the Milkweed family Aclepiadaceae and there are about 30 species of Asclepias found in Arizona from low deserts to...
Petey laments the loss of light. Rubber Rabbitbrush is a wonderful native shrub of the uplands. The golden yellow blooms atop gray stems in...
