Fennel Bronze

Description

Foeniculum vulgare ‘Purpureum’ – bronze fennel

Botanical name: Foeniculum vulgare ‘Purpureum’
Common names: Fennel
Family: Apiaceae (carrot family)
Plant type: Herbaceous perennial herb
Habit: Tall, upright, feathery
Pot size: 1 litre pot
Eventual size: Approx. 1.5–1.8m tall × 0.5m spread
Foliage: Beautiful, soft, feathery bronze-purple aromatic foliage
Flowers: Large, flat umbels of tiny yellow flowers on tall stems in summer (July–August), followed by aromatic seeds
Scent: Aromatic foliage and seeds with an aniseed scent
Aspect / light: Full sun
Soil: Well-drained, fertile; any pH
Hardiness: RHS H7 (very hardy, below −20°C); USDA zones 4–9
Exposure: Open, sunny; sheltered from strong winds
Native range: Native to the Mediterranean and southern Europe
Toxicity / pet & child safety: Generally considered non-toxic; the aromatic foliage may occasionally cause mild skin sensitivity in bright sun

Foeniculum vulgare ‘Purpureum’, bronze fennel, is a tall, elegant aromatic perennial with soft, feathery bronze-purple foliage and airy yellow flowerheads. Architectural and alive with pollinators, it brings height and haze to sunny borders.

GardenAdvice notes

A tall, elegant, aromatic perennial, fennel is grown for its beautiful feathery foliage and its architectural presence, as well as its aniseed scent. This bronze form is especially prized for its smoky purple foliage, which is richest on the young growth. Its airy flat flowerheads are a magnet for beneficial insects, and its statuesque form brings height and a soft, hazy texture to borders. It self-seeds freely.

Growing & planting

Plant in spring in well-drained, fertile soil in full sun, in a spot sheltered from strong winds, which can rock the tall stems. Give it room to develop its full height and airy spread. Space about 50cm apart. It is easy and quick to establish, and self-seeds readily.

Care & maintenance

Low-maintenance. Cut back the old growth in late winter or early spring. It self-seeds prolifically, so remove the seedheads before they ripen if you wish to prevent it spreading around the garden. It may need staking in exposed spots. Water while establishing; thereafter it is drought-tolerant.

Propagation

• Seed: Sow seed in spring, or allow it to self-seed — it does so very freely.
• Division: Established plants have a deep taproot and resent disturbance, so seed is the usual method.

Pests & diseases

Generally trouble-free. Aphids can occasionally cluster on the soft growth. Otherwise robust and easy in a sunny, well-drained spot.

Uses in the garden

Superb for adding height, movement and soft, feathery texture to borders, gravel and naturalistic plantings, and as an airy see-through screen; the flat flowerheads and seedheads add structure well into autumn.

Wildlife value

Fennel is one of the very best plants for beneficial insects: the flat flower umbels provide abundant, accessible nectar and pollen for bees, hoverflies and predatory insects, and it is a key food plant for the caterpillars of the swallowtail butterfly.

Toxicity & safety

Fennel is generally regarded as non-toxic; as with others in the carrot family, handling the foliage may occasionally cause mild skin sensitivity in bright sunlight.

GardenAdvice tip

The soft bronze-purple form of fennel takes on its richest colour on the young growth, so it’s worth shearing a plant back in early summer to trigger a fresh flush of coloured foliage. It’s a wonderful see-through plant for height and haze in a border, alive with pollinators when in flower — just remember it self-seeds freely, so snip off the seedheads if you don’t want babies everywhere.

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