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Foeniculum vulgare 'Smokey' / Bronze Fennel / Flower and Culinary Herb / Seeds

(Code: ES_103)
£ 1.59
(15 Item(s) In Stock)
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Foeniculum vulgare 'Smokey' / Bronze Fennel / Flower and Culinary Herb / Seeds

A bronze-leaved variety of Fennel which is a good ornamental plant for the garden, with all the benefits of a tasty herb.  These are tall attractive plants, growing to a height of about 150cm.  The leaves develop a smokey bronze colour, making this a really good accent plant.  Umbels of yellow flowers appear in summer, from June/July into August.  The plants are attractive to butterflies. 

The leaves, which are anise scented, can be harvested over the summer for use in salads and as a garnish.  The flowers are edible too, and seeds harvested from the flowers can be eaten fresh and dried.   


Fennel grows best in a sunny position in moist and well drained soils.  Plants self-seed in the right conditions but not necessarily in the same colour.  Remove the flowers as they fade if you do not wish plants to self-seed. 


Pack of approx 300 seeds.  Sow the seeds directly into the ground in spring.  Sowing instructions and a colour photo are printed on the packet. 


See how your seeds are packed.


Hardiness Hardy short-lived deciduous perennial herb (RHS Hardiness H4)
Height 140 - 160cm
Spread 60 - 80cm
Conditions  Sun and moist well-drained soil
Sow

Sow the seeds in early to mid spring directly into cultivated ground.  Thin the seedlings to about 30cm apart once they are established.  Or sow the seeds into modules of compost in spring, keep at a cool 10-15°C, and germination takes 3-6 weeks and can be erratic.  Transplant established seedlings into the ground, being careful not to disturb the roots.  Plants take a while to settle in after transplanting. 

Grow & Harvest

Plants grow and flower in the same year.  Trim off regular small amounts of leaves for use as a culinary herb.  Flowers can be eaten.  Leave some flowers on the plants for the development of seeds, which can be collected and used for cooking.  Plants die down in winter, when they can be cleared back, and then start growing again from the base in spring. New bronze-coloured plants need to be grown from commercial seed.  Self-seeded plants do not generally grow bronze leaves.