Foeniculum vulgare
Fennel
- Height × spread
- 1.8m × 0.5m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Colder than -20C (RHS H7)
- Flowers
- Summer, Autumn
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This is a lovely plant for the herbaceous border. It has the finest foliage that almost seems to float, a subtle foam of rich-green or grey-green filigree and, above this in late summer, there are delicate flat heads of yellow flowers like the most refined yarrow. The whole plant traps dew and sparkles first thing in the morning. The foliage has an interesting spicy musky or aniseed scent and, of course, the seeds can be used in cooking.
- Flower colour
- Green, Yellow
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Autumn foliage
- Yellow-bronze
- Stem colour
- Green
- Fruit colour
- Brown
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- Yes
- Shape
- Horizontal
- Height
- 1.8m
- Spread
- 0.5m
- Season of interest
- Summer, Autumn
- Flowers in
- Summer, Autumn
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Scented garden, Prairie garden, Herb garden, Gravel garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Gravelly soil, Loam (normal), Poor soil, Sandy soil
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Well drained soil, Dry soil, Drought resistant
- Hardiness
- Colder than -20C (RHS H7)
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Bee attraction, Bird attraction
- Rabbits
- Rabbits generally ignore
- Hazards
- No
- Pet safe
- Yes – listed in our pet-safe plants
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed with slow release fertiliser
Apply a general purpose slow release fertiliser, spreading it around the root area of the plant as it is coming into growth. (Or apply a liquid feed at regular intervals throughout the growing season.)
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost as a single annual procedure.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water in dry periods
Established plants in the ground can cope with 7-10 days of dryness, and shrubs often manage 2 to 3 weeks. Water one section of the garden thoroughly each day rather than a little everywhere. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather.