Description
Produces clouds of feathery bronze/purple leaves contrasting with tall, sulphur yellow flower heads. It is well suited to growing among ornamental grasses and tall perennials in a wild prairie style planting scheme. The tall foliage can be used effectively to create a semi translucent screen for viewing other planting through.
Height and spread: 1.8 m Height, 0.45m Spread
Common name: Bronze Fennel
Position in the garden: Full sun
Soil type: Fertile, moist well drained soil.
Flowering period: July to August
Hardiness: Fully Hardy
Goes well with:
Flowers - Anemone hyb. Königin Charlotte (windflower), Actaea simplex ‘James Compton’ (bugbane), Verbena bonariensis.
Grasses - Deschampsia cespitosa ‘Goldtau’ (tufted hair grass)
Care of Foeniculum vulgare Purpureum
Fennel is grown for it’s ferny foliage as well as it’s tall yellow flowers. If flowers are allowed to seed fennel will self seed but can be held in check by removing the flower heads. Fennel provides a valuable Winter habitat for insects so should not be cut back until March.
Wildlife benefits
Provides pollen and nectar for smaller pollinating insects including solitary bees, hoverflies, soldier beetles, damsel bugs, flower bugs, shield bugs and mini braconid wasps (beneficial predators to caterpillars and aphids). Also provides a Winter home in holly stems for hibernating insects and their larvae.
