Foeniculum vulgare

Taxonomy and growth

Family

Umbelliferae

Genus

Foeniculum

Life cycle

perennial

Foliage

evergreen

Height

1.5 m

Spread

1 m

Fertility

Self fertile, Insects

Flower type

hermaphrodite

Pollinators

Insects

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Leaves - raw or cooked^{[13][27][29][33][25]}. A delicious aniseed flavour^[9], the young leaves are best since older ones soon become tough[K]. They are often used as a garnish on raw or cooked dishes and make a very pleasant addition to salads^[9]. They help to improve digestion and so are particularly useful with oily foods^[22]. The leaves are difficult to store dried^[14], though this does not really matter since they can often be harvested all year round, especially if the plants are in a warm, sheltered position[K]. Leaf stalks and flower heads - raw or cooked^{[2][26][30][9]}. A similar aniseed flavour to the leaves[K]. The aromatic seeds are used as a flavouring in cakes, bread, stuffings etc^{[13][27][29][16][25][9]}. They have a similar flavour to the leaves[K] and also improve the digestion^[22]. The sprouted seeds can be added to salads^[9]. An essential oil from the fully ripened and dried seed is used as a food flavouring in similar ways to the whole seed^{[1][28][9][23]}. Root - cooked^[31]. Somewhat parsnip-like. The leaves or the seeds can be used to make a pleasant-tasting herbal tea^[4][9].

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.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fennel has a long history of herbal use and is a commonly used household remedy, being useful in the treatment of a variety of complaints, especially those of the digestive system^[22]. The seeds, leaves and roots can be used, but the seeds are most active medicinally and are the part normally used^[27]. An essential oil is often extracted from the fully ripened and dried seed for medicinal use, though it should not be given to pregnant women^[27][21]. The plant is analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, aromatic, carminative, diuretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, galactogogue, hallucinogenic, laxative, stimulant and stomachic^{[27][32][33][16][3][5][7][12][21]}. An infusion is used in the treatment of indigestion, abdominal distension, stomach pains etc^[24]. It helps in the treatment of kidney stones and, when combined with a urinary disinfectant like Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, makes an effective treatment for cystitis^[24]. It can also be used as a gargle for sore throats and as an eyewash for sore eyes and conjunctivitis^[24]. Fennel is often added to purgatives in order to allay their tendency to cause gripe, and also to improve the flavour^[27]. An infusion of the seeds is a safe and effective cure for wind in babies^[22]. An infusion of the root is used to treat urinary disorders^[21]. An essential oil obtained from the seed is used in aromatherapy. Its keyword is 'Normalising'^[17]. The essential oil is bactericidal, carminative and stimulant^[18]. Some caution is advised, see notes above on toxicity^[19].

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The seed yields up to 5% of an essential oil^[1][27][28]. This is used medicinally, as a food flavouring, in toothpastes, soaps, perfumery, air fresheners etc^[1][28][21]. The flavour of fennel oil depends upon its two main constituents. 'Fenchone' is a bitter tasting element whilst 'anethole' has a sweet anise-like flavour^[21]. The proportions of these two ingredients varies according to strain and region. Plants growing in the Mediterranean and southern Europe usually have a sweet oil whilst plants growing in central and northern Europe usually produce a more bitter oil^[21]. The quality of the oil also depends upon how well the seed has been dried - the oil from fully ripened and dried seeds being much sweeter and more fragrant^[23]. The dried plant is an insect repellent^[2][31], the crushed leaves are effective for keeping dogs free of fleas^[15]. The plant was formerly used as a strewing herb^[15]. Yellow and brown dyes are obtained from the flowers and leaves combined^[6].

Environment

Range

S. Europe. Naturalized in Britain.

Habitat

Found most often in dry stony calcareous soils near the sea^[1][4][11].

Light

full sun

Shade tolerance

no shade

Water

moderate

Hardiness

Zone 5+

Soil textures

sandy, loamy, clay

Soil pH

acid, neutral, alkaline

Drainage

well drained

Tolerances

high wind, drought

Wind

Yes

Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil

No

Drought

tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An easily grown plant, it succeeds in most soils but prefers a sunny dry position^{[27][4][26][14]}. It grows well in sandy soils^[10] and is drought tolerant once established^[11]. Plants often self-sow freely in the garden[K]. Plants can be grown in quite coarse grass, which can be cut annually in the autumn^[20]. Although hardy in most parts of Britain, plants are liable to die out over the winter if the soil is not well-drained or the weather is persistently cold and wet^[21]. Fennel is often cultivated in the herb garden for its edible and medicinal uses, there are some named varieties^[9]. Especially in mild winters, the leaves can be available all year round[K]. It is best to cut a few plants back to ground level occasionally during the growing season, thus ensuring a constant supply of fresh young shoots^[27]. In a dry summer make sure that you water the cut-down clump or it might not regrow that year[K]. Fennel is also grown commercially as a medicinal plant and for its essential oil^[27][21]. Fennel is in general a poor companion plant in the garden. It inhibits the growth of nearby plants, especially beans, tomatoes and kohl rabi^[2][8]. It is itself inhibited by wormwood and coriander^[2][8]. However, the flowering plant attracts beneficial insects such as bees, parasitic wasps, tachinid flies and hoverflies to the garden. The presence of these creatures will help to maintain a natural balance of insects in the garden and help prevent infestations by aphis etc^[21]. It is best not to grow fennel and dill (Anethum graveolens) close to each other since hybridisation can occur and the resulting seedlings will be of indeterminate flavour^[21].

Related plants

• Foeniculum vulgare azoricumFlorence Fennel
• Foeniculum vulgare dulceSweet Fennel
• Aciphylla colensoiWild Spaniard
• Aciphylla squarrosaSpeargrass

References

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

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2. Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-87857-262-7

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3. ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X

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4. Simons. New Vegetable Growers Handbook. Penguin 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-050-0

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5. Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.

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6. Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-02-544950-8

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7. Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00

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8. Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins 1979-00-00

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

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10. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

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

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12. Emboden. W. Narcotic Plants Studio Vista 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-289-70864-8

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13. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

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

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15. Allardice.P. A - Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers Ltd. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-304-34324-2

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16. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

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17. Westwood. C. Aromatherapy - A guide for home use. Amberwood Publishing Ltd 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-9517723-0-9

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18. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

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19. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

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20. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩

21. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

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22. Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30725-8

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

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24. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

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25. Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press ISBN 0-89815-041-8

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26. Thompson. B. The Gardener's Assistant. Blackie and Son. 1878-00-00

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

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

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29. Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219060-5

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30. Larkcom. J. Salads all the Year Round. Hamlyn 1980-00-00

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31. De. Bray. L. The Wild Garden.

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32. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

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33. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

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