Last year I planted a bronze fennel seedling in one of my half barrels that I have on my deck. I had started some from seed and had this last one left and didn’t really know what to do with it so I said what the heck, let’s plop it in the half barrel. Little did I know what would become of that bronze fennel a year later!
It is now enormous and stands taller than our roof. It has far surpassed any that I have ever planted in the ground. I don’t really know why it is doing so well; perhaps it likes the soil in the barrel? Whatever the case may be it is huge and tall and doing wonderful.
This towering fennel is covered in flowers right now. The flowers on it are some kind of beacon to beneficial insects because I see a ton of them buzzing and hopping from flower to flower. It is actually pretty neat because I can see this fennel from my living room so I get to witness all the bustling activity going on with its flowers.
I mostly grow bronze fennel for its seeds which are really tasty in things like stuffing or spaghetti sauce. The seeds can also be made into a tea to help ease stomach aches. They also make a good breath freshener when you chew them.
It is also a very pretty herb. The airy bronze colored fennel leaves look so nice growing next to other plants. I especially like it mixed with pink flowering plants. The colors really go well together in my opinion. In fact I plan on saving some seed from this fennel and growing some more in the back of my mixed flower bed next year. I think I might place some by the hollyhock seedlings that I planted this year.
If you have the room, I would recommend this herb to anyone. It is not only useful but also very beautiful.
A few days ago we had some rain. This picture shows how pretty the raindrops look clinging to the fennel's leaves.
How pretty is that with the raindrops hanging on it like crystals. What a great plant and all the medicinal/culinary uses are pretty interesting.
Isn’t it pretty? I love it when it has the rain or dew clinging to its leaves. It does look like crystals- I never thought of it that way! -Cindy
Bronze fennel is a great plant. Do you have swallowtail caterpillars yet?
One of the reasons I grow fennel and dill is for attracting swallowtails but sadly after 2 years of growing them and parsley I have yet to see a single one.
I have seen the butterfly once or twice in my garden but never the caterpillars. My garden is heavly visited by birds and I have oftened wondered if that is why. -Cindy
That’s one gigantic fennel!! It’s really happy there whatever conditions are making it so big. Hopefully you’ll find some caterpillars on it soon….
It is gigantic! I hope the swallowtails find it as my kids would get a big kick out of seeing that. If not then at least I will have lots of seeds to harvest for use in the winter! -Cindy
Oh, that is pretty! Nice capture with the camera!
Thank you!
-Cindy