Foeniculum vulgare Giant Bronze - Bronze Fennel

The Foeniculum vulgare 'Giant Bronze' elevates common fennel from the status of a vegetable and medicinal plant to that of a sumptuous perennial for the ornamental garden. This very beautiful variety develops an astonishing young foliage that is purple-coppery and gradually turns green-bronze as it grows. Its summer flowering, in umbels of ochre-yellow, forms a beautiful contrast with the foliage. Very airy and ethereal, it works wonders in sunny flowerbeds, bringing a lot of lightness without overshadowing its neighbors. It is remarkable in dahlia beds, with grasses or in a country setting.

Foeniculum vulgare (syn. Foeniculum officinale) belongs to the Apiaceae or umbelliferous family, it is a relative of carrot, celery and chervil, for example. This species, native to Turkey and Macedonia, is now naturalized in many regions with a Mediterranean climate, and of course throughout southern France where it is found along roadsides. It is a perennial herbaceous plant, generally deciduous in winter. It has excellent cold resistance, which allows it to be grown in all regions. Common fennel is a plant of sun and well-drained, even limestone, soils, adapted to summer drought. The cultivar 'Giant Bronze', larger than the type, also has remarkably coloured foliage.

The plant develops in spring from a large, fusiform and almost always bifid root, very long-lasting. Its habit is light, this fennel can easily exceed 1.50 m (5ft) in height and 60 cm (24in) in width under good growing conditions. The leaves, imbricated at the base, form a fleshy swelling improperly called a 'bulb': this is the part of the plant that is traditionally used in cooking. In 'Giant Bronze', the young shoots are of a remarkable dark copper color. As they unfold, they turn green, with bronze and copper reflections. The foliage is composed of strong, stiff stems bearing 'feathery' leaves, finely divided into thread-like segments. The flowering is triggered by the arrival of heat and/or drought: flowering occurs from June to August depending on the region. It takes the form of large flat umbels (10-15 cm (4-6in)) with 8 or 15 ray florets, loaded with small dark yellow flowers. This fragrant, nectar-bearing flowering is followed by the formation of numerous seeds that easily germinate here and there in the garden.

In the garden, this superb 'Giant Bronze' fennel will find its place in the sun in a well-drained, rocky or sandy soil, preferably at the back of flowerbeds due to its tall stature. Its astonishing ethereal foliage, bronze with copper reflections, allows for playing with contrasts of shapes and colors. It will bring a beautiful touch of lightness while enhancing neighboring plants. There are plenty of ideas for associations: with dahlias, grasses, Phlomis, echinaceas, Buenos Aires verbena, Caryopteris, columbines, garden irises, and many others. Giant Bronze fennel is just as edible as the classic variety, it is used in cooking for its aniseed flavor.

A vegetable and medicinal plant: all parts of common fennel are aromatic. They contain an essential oil used in aromatherapy and phytotherapy. In cooking, the leaves are used as a condiment, and the bulb is consumed as a vegetable.