Practical
Plants

Ferula communis

Giant Fennel

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Ferula
Life cycle
perennial
Height
2.5 m
Spread
1 m
Fertility
self fertile
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Flies

Uses

Edible uses

Leaves[5]. No further details are given.

Plant part
Leaves

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

One report says that the root yields a gum with medicinal properties but no details are given[1].

Product or use
Miscellany

Material uses

A gum 'Gum Ammoniac' is obtained by notching the root[11][12][13][2]. It is used as an incense[10], it also has medicinal value[1]. The stems are used in furniture making[14]. The dried pith is used as a tinder, it burns very slowly inside the stem and can thus be carried from one place to another[14][2][4].

Product or use
Furniture
Product or use
Gum
Product or use
Tinder

Environment

Range
Europe - Mediterranean.
Habitat
Dry hills, walls, waste ground and limestone[14], often in soils that are damp in the spring[6].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
drought
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as the seed is ripe in a greenhouse in autumn[1]. Otherwise sow in April in a greenhouse. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle. Plant them out into their permanent positions whilst still small because the plants dislike root disturbance[1]. Give the plants a protective mulch for at least their first winter outdoors. Division in autumn. This may be inadvisable due to the plants dislike of root disturbance.

Cultivation

Succeeds in most soils[1] including dry ones according to one report[7] whilst others say that it requires a deep moist fertile soil in a sunny position[3][8]. Established plants are drought resistant[7]. This species is hardy to about -10°c, possibly lower if the rootstock is mulched in the winter[6]. A very ornamental plant[1], though the flowers have a most unpleasant rancid smell[9]. Plants are often monoecious[6]. Plants are intolerant of root disturbance due to their long taproot[8]. They should be planted into their final positions as soon as possible. The sub-species brevifolia is the form used for its gum[1][11][12][2].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  2. Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969-00-00 ISBN 0192176218

    ↩1↩2↩3

  3. Sanders. T. W. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge 1926-00-00

    ↩

  4. Niebuhr. A. D. Herbs of Greece. Herb Society of America. 1970-00-00

    ↩

  5. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩

  6. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  7. Chatto. B. The Dry Garden. Dent 1982-00-00 ISBN 0460045512

    ↩1↩2

  8. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  9. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩

  10. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩

  11. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  12. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

  13. Howes. F. N. Vegetable Gums and Resins. Faber

    ↩

  14. Polunin. O. and Huxley. A. Flowers of the Mediterranean. Hogarth Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-7012-0784-1

    ↩1↩2↩3

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