Fennel
Foeniculum vulgare
📖 About this plant
Perennial herb with feathery foliage, a swollen edible bulb (Florence fennel), and aromatic seeds. All parts have a sweet anise flavor; bronze fennel is a popular ornamental.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
Full sun (6-8 hrs)
Every 1-2 weeks
Moderate (40-60%)
15-25°C
Well-draining, fertile loam (pH 6.0-7.0); tolerates poor soils
Balanced fertilizer at planting; side-dress with compost mid-season
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- Mediterranean region
- 📏 Max height
- 1-2.5 meters (3-8 feet)
- 📐 Spread
- 45-90 cm
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Summer
- 🎨 Bloom color
- Yellow
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Green, Lacy
- ⏳ Lifespan
- Perennial
- 📈 Growth rate
- Fast
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Non-toxic to humans (edible bulb, fronds, and seeds). The essential oil can cause contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals. Mildly toxic to pets.
- 🌱 Propagation
- Direct seed in spring; division in early spring for established plants
🛡️ Health & Safety
Non-toxic to humans (edible bulb, fronds, and seeds). The essential oil can cause contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals. Mildly toxic to pets.
Common issues
- Aphids on foliage, Root rot from overwatering, Bolting from stress, Slugs on young plants
💡 Care tips
- Feathery fronds and bulbous base are both edible,Licorice-flavored seeds are used in cooking and herbal teas,Does not transplant well so sow seeds directly in place,Harvest bulb when it reaches the size of a tennis ball