Name:Fennel, Bronze

Botanical Name: Foeniculum vulgare

Zone: Hardy from Zone 5, and easily grown as an annual in the lower zones.

Bloom Color: Fragrant, Yellow flowers.

Soil: Bronze Fennel likes a damp place to live.

Harvesting: If you would like to save the seeds, watch as the seeds start to turn from green to brown, and then cut the whole head and allow it to finish the ripening process in a brown paper bag. When the seeds are ripe, they will easily shake loose from the main head. Store in an airtight jar. The Bronze Fennel seeds are a traditional addition to Italian Sausage and tomato sauces.

Exposure: Requires full sun or part shade.

Description: Semi-hardy perennial. This attractive plant has finely feathered leaves having a bronze tint. Fennel is excellent used as a delicate flavoring for fish dishes and soups. As a tea, fennel is said to be good for coughs and oil made from the seeds has antibacterial properties. Grows to 4 ft. Fragrant.

Care: Cut back to the ground at the end of the season after seeds have formed. Having a long tap root, Fennel should not be disturbed or divided after planting.