Tagetes lucida (Mexican Tarragon)

Native from Mexico to Honduras, this aromatic perennial herb grows about 2 to 3 feet tall. Its leaves have an anise-like flavor and are used fresh or dried in soups and sauces as a substitute for French tarragon. The leaves were also used to flavor the Aztecs’ cocoa drink. Clusters of small golden-yellow flower heads appear in late summer and fall, and the flowers are used in tea. The leaves may irritate the skin. Photographed in the department of Quindio, Colombia.