Common Name: Type: Family: Native Range: Zone: Height: Spread: Bloom Time: Bloom Description: Sun: Water: Maintenance: Suggested Use: Flower: Leaf: Attracts: Tolerate: |
fennel Herbaceous perennial Apiaceae Mediterranean 4 to 9 4.00 to 6.00 feet 1.50 to 3.00 feet June to July Yellow Full sun Medium Low Annual, Herb, Naturalize Showy Fragrant Butterflies Deer |
Foeniculum vulgare (common fennel) is an upright, branching perennial and is typically grown in vegetable and herb gardens for its anise-flavored foliage and seeds. Both foliage and seeds are used in cooking. It somewhat resembles a very large dill plant growing to 3-5’ tall. The fennel has feathery, compound, aromatic, yellow-green leaves with needle-like segments and tiny yellow flowers in large, flattened, compound umbels. Flowers, which are very attractive to butterflies, bloom in mid- to late summer. They are followed aromatic seeds. Fennel is easily grown in full sun in moist, organically rich, well-drained soils. Can be sown directly in the garden from seed in the spring. It freely self-seeds in the garden. To avoid any unwanted self-seeding, remove spent flowering stems before seed is produced. Fennel works well for borders, in vegetable and herb gardens, cottage gardens or meadows. It is a good plant for a butterfly garden. Seeds are used as flavoring in a variety of foods including bakery products and sausage. Chopped leaves are used in salads and for flavoring potatoes or fish. |
Information on this page is from Missouri Botanical Gardens. or Dave’s Garden |