Description
Foeniculum – Fennel –
There is a single species of an aromatic perennial or biennial, in this genus. It is native to rich, well drained soils in sunny, coastal areas in Europe, especially the Mediterranean. The perennial F. fulgare is used to flavor foods, the biennial F. vulgare var. azoricum is grown for its edible, swollen stem base. Both forms have slender stems and finely cut, anise-flavored leaves. They bear umbels of yellow flowers, followed by aromatic seeds. Grow as foliage plants in a herb or wild garden, darker leaved cultivars provide contrast in a perennial border.
F. vulgare – This deep rooting, tall perennial from Southern Europe grows 6′ feet tall and 18″ wide. From hollow stems it carries of triangular finely cut, 3 or 4 pinnate, almost hair like, anise flavored, mid to glaucous green leaves, to 12″ long. In mid and late summer, slender, smooth, branching stems bear flat, compound umbels , to 4″ across, of tiny yellow flowers, followed by aromatic seeds. The leaves and seeds are used in cooking and medicinally.
Grow in fertile, moist but well drained soil in full sun. Remove stems before they shed seeds.
Prone to stem rot, root rot, aphids, slugs, larvae of swallowtail butterflies.
zones 4-9
