Fennel

• Bronze Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare 'Purpureum')

Sun Requirements: Full Sun

Water Requirements: Low to Moderate

Height: 36-48 inches

Harvest Time: Leaves and seeds are harvested throughout the growing season

Description: Bronze Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare 'Purpureum') is a variety of fennel prized for its ornamental value and culinary uses. It features feathery, bronze-purple foliage that adds a striking contrast to garden landscapes. In addition to its aesthetic appeal, Bronze Fennel attracts beneficial insects and pollinators with its umbrella-shaped yellow flowers. It is commonly used in salads, teas, and as a garnish, adding a mild anise flavor to dishes.  A prized host plant for the Eastern Black Swallowtail butterfly and caterpillar.

Planting Tips:

• Plant in well-drained soil.
• Space plants 18-24 inches apart.
• Provide occasional watering, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings to prevent root rot.

Ideal Season for Planting in Texas: Spring

Nativity to Texas: No

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• Hybrid Bulb Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare var. azoricum)

Sun Requirements: Full Sun

Water Requirements: Moderate; consistent moisture for tender bulb development

Height: 24 to 36 inches tall, 12 to 18 inches wide

Bloom Time/Harvest Time: Harvest bulbs in 60 to 90 days; flowers in Summer if not harvested

Description:
Hybrid bulb fennel is grown for its crisp, swollen white base with a mild anise flavor. Excellent raw in salads or roasted, it produces feathery green foliage and may send up tall yellow flower umbels if left unharvested. Best quality bulbs form in cool weather.

Planting Tips:
Plant in rich, well-drained soil.
Keep soil evenly moist to prevent tough or split bulbs.
Space 8 to 12 inches apart for full bulb formation.
Harvest promptly once bulbs reach tennis ball size.

Ideal Season for Planting in Texas: Fall or Late Winter

Nativity to Texas: No