Fennel

Growing it as a herb, for architectural merit, height at the back of a border and using the leaves on occasion, not digging up the bulb for cooking.

Is it best to replace the plants in Spring or treat as a perennial? I've moved one plant today as it was in the wrong place, but thinking maybe I could replace with new plants (they're dirt cheap at the garden centre)

What do we think?

 

I use fennel the same way, mine are around three years old and they seem to come back thicker and taller each year. I would treat as a perennial, and collect and sow the seeds myself-even cheaper.

Seems to work well with some of the taller wildflowers-poppies the best.

 

I think Fennel's one of those promiscuous herbs. I've got one in the middle of my dry garden which I definitely didn't plant deliberately, growing through the membrane beneath the shingle. It also spreads, and now it's growing on the edge of the lawn. So beware! However, it has wonderful height without density and I'm certainly using it in my garden at Chelsea this year.
Picture below shows dry garden before fennel!
Chris www.chrisodonoghue.co.uk

 

Yes, I notice it self seeds quite happily. Oh well, I've lifted the plant from last year and put it somewhere more suitable as it got a little OTT in the border, so it'll look a lot better this year - if it survives being lifted that is!

I cut this one back hard last autumn, when it started to look a bit unruly and messy. They recover, don't they?

 

Yep, I have bronze fennel. It got to 5 foot last summer and took over!

 

Now I don`t personally like bronze fennel, I would be very interested in what you have planted it near and around to see what works with the colouring.


Regarding it`s invasive-ness, I took a huge drift out last year as it was overhanging a small walkway-much to my little girls disgust, when she found out she complained bitterly that I had taken her jungle away.

It`s quite refreshing to be reminded that it is their garden too, and I promised her a new jungle this year.

 

In its new spot, it'll be next to a young eucalyptus tree (about 5 foot so far) and the angelica. Both very different I know, but I don't worry too much about that sort of thing and it usually works!

 

Well, there`s no way to imagine that the fennel shown here is dead is there Shiney.

I can definitely picture some nicotiana flower round it too, as well as a few dahlias.

Thanks again Shiney.

 

Lovely pics Shiney. I love fennel for its foliage, such a contrast. I think mine will look good where its been moved to. Fingers crossed it survives the move.

 

I've got a big clump of Pennisetum next to the (bronze) fennel and sef-seeded Californian poppies and love-in-mist pop up all round it. It's amazing how well everything grows, considering there's no soil above the membrane, just shingle. And Viktoria, a bronze a made before I became a gardener, sits proudly in a sea of delicate flowers and foliage.
Chris www.chrisodonoghue.co.uk

 

Sorry, forgot the picture on the previous post!
Chris www.chrisodonoghue.co.uk

 

Plants are so versatile

Chris, that bronze is beautiful. Are you still doing metalwork?

 

Hi Aaron,

If I was commisiond to I probably would, especially if it was a garden sculpture. Although not at the moment as the dates for Chelsea seem to be roaring towards me and there's so much to organise!
Chris www.chrisodonoghue.co.uk