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Foeniculum vulgare 'Purpureum' (Bronze Fennel)

Other names: Foeniculum vulgare 'Bronze', Foeniculum vulgare 'Nigra', Foeniculum vulgare 'Rubrum', Foeniculum vulgare 'Nigrum'

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Add to plant list
Variety or Cultivar
'Purpureum' is a vigorous, upright, aromatic biennial or short-lived perennial with branching stems bearing finely-divided, pinnate, mid-green leaves, bronze-purple when young. Flat umbels of small, yellow flowers in summer are followed by anise-scented seeds.
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Season of interest

Flower

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Flower

Foliage

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Foliage
Height and spread

Height and spread

Size Max height Max spread To maturity
2 m 0.5 m 2-5 years
7 ft 2 ft 2-5 years

Where to grow

Soil type
  • Chalky
  • Clay
  • Loamy
  • Sandy
Soil drainage
  • Moist but well-drained
Soil pH
  • Acid
  • Alkaline
  • Neutral
Sunlight
  • Full Sun
Aspect
  • West
  • South
Exposure
  • Sheltered

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Additional plant details

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun.

Suggested uses

Beds and borders, Cottage/Informal, Wildlife, Flavouring food and drinks, Add to salads, Foliage only

UK hardiness

H5

USDA zones

Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9

Sunset zone

2B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2, 3

WUCOLS

North-Central Coastal = Low
Central Valley = Moderate/Medium
South Coastal = Moderate/Medium
South Inland = Moderate/Medium
High and Intermediate Desert = Unknown
Low Desert = Unknown

Foliage

Deciduous

Habit

Upright

Native to

Garden origin

Drought tolerant

No

Flood tolerant

No

Fragrance

Foliage is aromatic (aniseed).

Toxicity

Not toxic

Plant care

Pruning

Can be invasive if flowers are allowed to set seed.

Propagation methods

Seed

Pests

Aphids

Diseases

Generally disease free.

Deadhead perennials before they seed (optional)

Mulch with leaf mould or garden compost in spring (optional)

Let self-seed if desired

Plant container grown plants in a sunny postion

Plant in moist but well-drained soil (spring)

Sow seeds in containers with heat (spring)

Other plants

Plants in this Genus (0)

Foeniculum

Companion plants (3)

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Origanum laevigatum 'Hopleys'
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Origanum laevigatum 'Hopleys' Smooth oregano 'Hopleys'
Salvia officinalis 'Purpurascens'
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Salvia officinalis 'Purpurascens' Purple sage
Origanum laevigatum 'Herrenhausen'
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Origanum laevigatum 'Herrenhausen' Smooth oregano 'Herrenhausen'
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Related content

Discuss Foeniculum vulgare 'Purpureum' with other Shoot members

Re: How to to train bronze fennel to grow straight up

Carol
443 0
By all means stake it, or put stickes and string around. Are you sure it's not just dry?
Posted: Thursday 12th of July 2018 06:42 PM

How to to train bronze fennel to grow straight up

Jeni
443 1
Hi, our bronze fennel has almost fallen over as it's leaning towards the sun. Does anyone have advice to train it to stand upright e.g. via a bamboo stick or something?
Posted: Saturday 7th of July 2018 08:18 PM Last reply: Friday 28th of February 2025 03:50 PM

Re: I need to move my Bronze Fennel, will it survive if I move it now? Also could I divide it whilst I am moving it?

Muriel
3610 0
I have just moved mine and it has survived. Take it with a big root ball and don't break the tap root. Replant it immediately and give it lots of water. It will droop initially, but it should recover and perk up after a few days. Good luck!
Posted: Wednesday 23rd of April 2014 03:25 PM

I need to move my Bronze Fennel, will it survive if I move it now? Also could I divide it whilst I am moving it?

Shoot User
3610 1
I need to move my Bronze Fennel, will it survive if I move it now? Also could I divide it whilst I am moving it?
Posted: Wednesday 23rd of April 2014 07:20 AM Last reply: Saturday 8th of March 2025 03:51 PM

Bronze fennel

Shoot User
1244 0
What a fantastic plant this is! A very easy yet graceful perennial for just about any spot where height is needed. It begins as a soft, brown, round, fragrant yet wonderfully tactile bush that demands to be caressed. Then it slowly unfurls, adds a deep green hue, straightens and stretches to its elegant height of 2m and opens out plate like heads of yellow flowers. And as if all this isn't enough, it pays you for having it your garden by producing hundred of aniseed seeds for cooking - or to grow more fennel.
Posted: Tuesday 4th of August 2009 07:19 PM Last reply: Friday 28th of February 2025 03:59 PM

Fennel oil

Nicola
885 0
This plant is used in the Perfume garden by Laurie Chetwood and Patrick Collins in their Perfume garden for Chelsea Flower Show 2009. They say 'Essential oil used in perfumery is steam distilled from the seeds. Fennel oil is used in herbaceous type perfumes.'
Posted: Saturday 9th of May 2009 11:23 AM Last reply: Friday 28th of February 2025 03:45 PM
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