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Position

Sun exposure:
Full sun
Aspect:
South facing, west facing
Position in border:
Middle

Soil

Well Drained / Light / Sandy

Fennel is a particularly ornamental culinary herb, which works equally as well in ornamental borders as it does in herb and vegetable gardens. Fennel has very finely divided foliage and attractive, plate-like yellow flowers followed by aromatic seeds. The flowers are attractive to insects, especially hoverflies, and the seeds are eaten by birds.

Fennel has a strong aniseed flavour. Use the bulb sparingly, in soups or roasted and served with other root vegetables, or sliced in salads. The leaves may be harvested and used in pesto, and the seeds in curries.

Foeniculum vulgare 'Purpureum' has feathery, bronze-purple leaves in contrast to sulphur-yellow flowerheads. It is well suited to growing among ornamental grasses and tall perennials such as Verbena bonariensis.

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Sowyesyesyes
Plantyesyes
Flowersyesyes
Collect seedsyesyes

Foeniculum ‘Purpureum’ and wildlife

Foeniculum ‘Purpureum’ is known for attracting bees, beneficial insects, birds, butterflies/moths and other pollinators. It is a caterpillar food plant, has nectar/pollen rich flowers and has seeds for birds.

Is known to attract Bees
Bees
Is known to attract Beneficial insects
Beneficial insects
Is known to attract Birds
Birds
Is known to attract Butterflies/​Moths
Butterflies/​Moths
Is known to attract Other pollinators
Other pollinators

Is Foeniculum ‘Purpureum’ poisonous?

Foeniculum ‘Purpureum’ can be toxic.

Toxic to:
Is known to attract Dogs
Dogs
No reported toxicity to:
Is not known to attract Birds
Birds
Is not known to attract Cats
Cats
Is not known to attract Horses
Horses
Is not known to attract Livestock
Livestock
Is not known to attract People
People
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