Bronze Fennel Seeds

Bronze fennel gives a border height and movement: a tall, smoky cloud of fine, feathery foliage that catches the light in every breeze. New growth of Foeniculum vulgare 'Purpureum' emerges a deep bronze-purple before softening to dusky green, and in high summer flat yellow flower heads rise above it, busy with hoverflies, bees and ladybirds. The whole plant tastes of aniseed: snip the fronds over fish, salads and potatoes, and use the seeds in bread, sausages and baking. It is as much an ornamental as a herb, and it looks superb among grasses and late perennials.

Sowing and growing

• Sow outdoors where it is to grow April to June; fennel has a taproot and dislikes being moved
• Or sow indoors in deep modules March to April and plant out young
• Sow about 1 cm deep
• Germination takes 7 to 14 days
• Full sun, in moist but well-drained soil
• Grows to 1 to 1.8 m tall in time
• Flowers July to September; cut off faded heads to stop heavy self-seeding
• A hardy perennial (RHS H5)

What you receive: a packet of about 150 seeds from Piccolo Seeds, with growing instructions on the back.

Explore more herb and flower seeds, or see our plants for wildlife and pollinators.