- Botanical name: Foeniculum vulgare
- Common name: Fennel
- Family: Apiaceae
- Plant Type: Herb, Perennial
Yellow
Green
- Key features:
- Attractive to wildlife
- Dramatic foliage
Fennel, Foeniculum vulgare, 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.
Grow Foeniculum vulgare in moist but well-drained soil in full sun.
How to grow Foeniculum vulgare
-
Plant size
1.8m height
60cm spread
-
Aspect
South facing, west facing
-
Position in border
Middle
- Sun exposure: Full sun
- Hardiness: Hardy
- Soil type: Well drained / light / sandy
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow | ||||||||||||
| Sow |
J
Do not Sow in January |
F
Do not Sow in February |
M
Do Sow in March |
A
Do Sow in April |
M
Do Sow in May |
J
Do not Sow in June |
J
Do not Sow in July |
A
Do not Sow in August |
S
Do not Sow in September |
O
Do not Sow in October |
N
Do not Sow in November |
D
Do not Sow in December |
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Plant |
J
Do not Plant in January |
F
Do not Plant in February |
M
Do not Plant in March |
A
Do not Plant in April |
M
Do Plant in May |
J
Do Plant in June |
J
Do not Plant in July |
A
Do not Plant in August |
S
Do not Plant in September |
O
Do not Plant in October |
N
Do not Plant in November |
D
Do not Plant in December |
| Flowers | ||||||||||||
| Flowers |
J
Plant does not flower in January |
F
Plant does not flower in February |
M
Plant does not flower in March |
A
Plant does not flower in April |
M
Plant does not flower in May |
J
Plant does not flower in June |
J
Plant does flower in July |
A
Plant does flower in August |
S
Plant does not flower in September |
O
Plant does not flower in October |
N
Plant does not flower in November |
D
Plant does not flower in December |
Foeniculum vulgare and wildlife
Foeniculum vulgare 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.
Attractive to Bees
Attractive to Beneficial insects
Attractive to Birds
Attractive to Butterflies/Moths
Attractive to Other pollinators
Is Foeniculum vulgare poisonous?
Foeniculum vulgare can be toxic.
Toxic to Dogs
No reported toxicity to Birds
No reported toxicity to Cats
No reported toxicity to Horses
No reported toxicity to Livestock
No reported toxicity to People
Plants that go well with Foeniculum vulgare
