Fennel - Foeniculum vulgare - €7 per plant 

Fennel is an excellent perennial herb for the productive garden. The leaves make a refreshing nibble, are great in salads and teas and the stems and roots can be cooked like Asparagus spears. When the plant flowers it graces the garden with prolific yellow bloom much enjoyed by a host of pollinating insects. The blooms are followed by an abundance of seed that make a great addition to homemade breads and as flavouring in cuisine. Although Fennel is considered a poor companion plant due to its inhibitory effects on plants growing nearby,  it is well renown for attracting beneficial insects and deterring pests and we feel that it more than earns its place in our garden.  It needs a sunny position and will spread readily by seed the plants of which if unwanted provide a good quantity of biomass.  We a offer seedlings and divisions.  To order this plant please contact us [email protected].  

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Context

• native region: S. Europe
• native habitat: Found most often in dry stony calcareous soils near the sea
• family: Apiaceae or Umbelliferae

Predators

• None known or experienced 
  

Needs, tolerances 

• Light: No shade
• soil pH:  Acid, neutral -basic alkaline 
• USDA Hardiness Zone: 4a - 9a
• Prefers well drained soil 
• If the plant is cut back to the ground during the growing season it will produce a new flush of young leaves.
• Drought tolerant 
• It is inhibited by wormwood and coriander

Known hazards 

• Skin contact with the sap or essential oil is said to cause photo-sensitivity and/or dermatitis in some people. Ingestion of the oil can cause vomiting, seizures and pulmonary oedema. Avoid for small children. Avoid if cirrhosis/liver disorders. Diabetics check sugar content of preparation. 
•  It inhibits the growth of nearby plants, especially beans, tomatoes and kohl rabi.

Overview

• ​10 x 12 cm plant bag
• Evergreen perennial growing to 1.5 m (5ft) by 1 m (3ft 3in). 
• It is in flower from Aug to October, and the seeds ripen from Sep to October. 
• The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects.The plant is self-fertile. 
• It is noted for attracting wildlife. 
• Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. 
• Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. 
• It cannot grow in the shade. 
• It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought. 
• The plant can tolerate strong winds but not maritime exposure.

Characteristics

• form:Evergreen perennial 
  
• layer : Herb Layer
• habit: multi-stemmed , deep tap root system. 
• height x width (m): 1.5 x 1
• years to bearing yield: 0 years  
• productive life span: indefinite 

Products 

• Leaf: The young leaves are best and have a strong anisee flavour, good in salads and for herbal teas. The crushed leaves are effective for keeping dogs free of fleas
• Shoot: The young shoots can be eaten as a vegetable. 
• Root: Can be cooked and eaten (similar to parsnip)
• Seeds: Sprouted added to salads, added to bread mix ,used for making herbal teas. 
• The dried plant is an insect repellent.
• An essential oil is obtained from the plant
  
• Yellow and brown dyes are obtained from the flowers and leaves combined
  
• The whole plant is very pleasantly aromatic, the aroma lasting for a long time after the plant has been harvested. 
  
• Medicinal:Fennel contains medicinal properties. It contains iron, histidine and amino acids These elements are useful in the treatment of anemia.

Functions, behaviours

• Animal dispersed seeds
• Attracts beneficial insects such as bees, parasitic wasps, tachinid flies and hoverflies to the garden. The presence of these creatures will help to maintain a natural balance of insects in the garden and help prevent infestations by aphids etc
• The growing plant is said to repel flies and ants.
• Generally a poor companion due to inhibitory effects of other plants 
  

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If you would like this plant please send an email to [email protected] with your order.