French tarragon is a fairly rangy looking plant, about two feet tall and wide, with long narrow green leaves that are licorice-flavored. Though easy enough to find in the grocery store, it's one of those herbs that many cooks use only infrequently, so it makes sense to grow it in one's garden, where it can be picked as needed. Tarragon does best in well-draining soil with some protection from the hot afternoon sun. It will die down in the winter, but comes back nicely in the spring. Trimming the plant back at least once during the growing season will keep the plant a bit tidier, and the stems can be used fresh or dried.