The lanceolate to linear leaves are 1 to 4 inches long with smooth or entire edges. The small yellow or whitish green flowers are drooping and globe shaped in dense terminal panicles. The flowers rarely open fully and are usually sterile. The fruit is an achene. Pests and disease Root rot and mildew.
Cultivation Use cuttings or young plants to start tarragon.
For cuttings, take 6-inch tips of shoots in late spring or summer, when new leaves are fairly firm. Remove lower leaves and place in a pot of growing medium, such as sand. Once the cuttings are rooted, plant them outside, preferably in mid summer. Plant seedlings in a sunny area with well-drained soil and keep watered. Cut back in autumn.