Bronze fennel

Pamela14

Hi all!

I have some gorgeous bronze fennel growing in my garden as a sculptural plant. Can you tell me if it is edible, as with other fennels, and if so what part of the plant can be used?

Thanks 

nutcutlet

you can eat the leaves and the seeds. It's just fennel, Foeniculum vulgare

Pamela14

Ah that's really helpful

Thank you nutcutlet 

josusa47

Every year I collect loads of fennel seeds which I sow thickly in small trays of coir. After two weeks on the kitchen window sill I take a pair of scissors to the seedlings and eat them in sandwiches.

Fire

I have two new plants. Does it usually need staking?

Fire

Thanks. Maybe it will get more feathery as it grows.

Bijdezee

The bronze one is edible but the one that produces swollen roots that are used as a vegetable is another variety. That one is the green florence fennel which develops larger bulbs.

I use fennel seeds in a honey spiced cake and also for fennel tea which is good for the digestive system. 

The_herpetologist

Yes, it’s beautiful, and edible. I have some too. Have to be careful though as it leeches a chemical that impedes the growth of any other plants in the near viscinity. 

Fire

Ah, does it now?  Good to know. My borage seems to be fine with it. But will keep an eye out.

hogweed

Unfortunately does not impede the plants in my garden. The fennel is surrounded by miscanthus, verbascums, gunnera etc, all growing like billy-o!