Pinetree Garden Seeds Fennel produces decorative, fern-like foliage and anise-flavored seeds for culinary use and drying. The tender perennial can reach 4–6 feet and is often grown as an annual in colder areas. Start it indoors or sow it outdoors in full sun, then harvest leaves as needed and collect seeds when the flower heads turn from green to brown.
Features
Annual herb
Attracts pollinators and beneficial insects
Culinary herb
Suitable for drying
Soil: Average to fertile, well-drained soil
Light: Full sun
Harvest: Pick leaves at 8–12 inches; collect seeds when umbels turn brown
Plant type: Tender perennial; zones 6, 7 and 10
Mature width: 18–24 inches
Sowing depth: ¼ inch
Indoor sowing: Start 4–6 weeks before the last frost
Mature height: 36–48 inches
Plant spacing: 6–8 inches
Botanical name: Foeniculum vulgare
Flowering time: Mid to late summer
Outdoor sowing: Mid-spring at 60–65°F soil temperature
