About Bronze Fennel

Bronze Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare var. purpureum) is a striking herb known for its dark bronze-red foliage and distinctive licorice flavour. Unlike typical green fennel, its ornamental leaves add elegance to garden borders, herb beds, or container gardens.

This versatile plant offers multiple harvest options: grill or shave the bulbs into salads before flowering, enjoy the delicate flower heads as a garden highlight, or collect seeds for use as a fragrant spice in cooking and baking. A magnet for pollinators, Bronze Fennel is both beautiful and practical.

Where Can You Grow Bronze Fennel

Bronze Fennel thrives in Zones 4-9, preferring full sun and well-drained soil. It grows well in garden beds, borders, and containers, adding a dramatic touch wherever planted.

History and Historical Uses

Fennel has been cherished for centuries for its culinary, medicinal, and ornamental qualities. Native to the Mediterranean, it was historically valued for aiding digestion and enhancing flavours in traditional dishes. Bronze Fennel, with its unique foliage, continues this legacy while adding an aesthetic edge to modern gardens.

Canadian Zone Information

• Zones 8-9: Sow seeds directly in spring or autumn for successive harvests.
• Zones 5-7: Start seeds indoors in early spring and transplant after the last frost.
• Zones 4: Direct sow seeds in spring after the last frost or start indoors for an earlier harvest.
  

How to Grow and Harvest Bronze Fennel

1. Planting: Sow seeds 0.5cm (1/4in) deep, spacing plants 30-45cm (12-18in) apart in nutrient-rich soil.
2. Watering: Water moderately, ensuring soil remains moist but not waterlogged.
3. Harvesting:
   • Leaves: Pick young leaves throughout the growing season for fresh use.
   • Bulbs: Harvest bulbs when they reach 5-10cm (2-4in) in diameter, before the plant flowers.
   • Seeds: Allow flower heads to mature and dry; collect seeds for culinary use.

Seed Saving Tips for Future Supply

1. Allow to Flower and Seed: Let flower heads mature fully on the plant until dry and brown.
2. Harvest Seeds: Cut seed heads and place them in a paper bag to catch falling seeds.
3. Dry and Clean: Spread seeds on a screen or towel to dry completely. Separate any debris.
4. Store: Store dried seeds in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. Properly stored seeds remain viable for up to 4 years.

Certified Organic By

Islands Organics Producers Association (Cert#1962)