Bronze Fennel

Very striking, bronze, fine feathery leaves. Umbells of small yellow flowers in summer followed by aromatic edible seeds. Used in pork and fish dishes and a great addition to salads. Medicinal uses.

Perennial. H:1m W:0.6m. 12cm, 17cm.

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Florence Fennel

A multi-branched herb with feather-like leaves and small yellow flowers borne on a large flat umbels in summer, followed by aromatic edible seeds. Used in pork and in fish dishes and a great addition to salads. Medicinal uses.

Perennial. H:80cm W:80cm. 12cm, 17cm.

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 Using Fennel in a salad

Fennel has a light licorice flavour, is crispy and a great addition to any salad. Can also be used when cooking as the sweetness of fennel increases when cooked. Fennel is very popular to Mediterranean cuisine, to flavour soups and fish sauce.

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Growth Characteristics:
• Perennial, Evergreen, Frost hardy.
• Use it in the garden to add height and a soft feathery effect,
• Prevent seeding, it can become very invasive

• Height:
•± 1.5m; Spread: ±80 cm.

Florence Fennel:
• A finely foliaged plant with a bulbous, fleshy base, hollow stems and delicate, thread-like, dark olive green leaves,
•  Flattened heads of tiny bright yellow flowers.

Bronze Fennel:
• A superior bronze fennel with a sweet, liquorice flavour.

Cultivation:
• Full sun; Well drained, composted soil.

Harvesting:
• Pick fresh leaves throughout the year,
• Collect seed when ripe.

Companion Planting:
• Do not plant with: Beans, Caraway, Coriander, Dill, Green Peppers, Tomatoe,
• Attracting Beneficial insects: Hoverfly, Wasps,
• Host Plant for: Aphids.

 

Culinary use:
• Use leaves, flowers and seed with:
• Cabbage, Cooked Vegetables, Potatoes,
• Fish, Sausages, Stuffings for Oily fish,
• Biscuits, Breads, Cakes, Pasta, Pickles, Salads, Vinegars,
• Indian dishes, Italian dishes,
• The fleshy, white base of Florence Fennel is eaten raw or cooked.

• Strong Aniseed aroma.
• Seed: Cold tea makes a refreshing facial rinse to help reduce wrinkles and tone the skin.
• Use in facial steams and baths for deep cleansing.

Fennel may be beneficial in the following cases:
General
• Chewing the seeds freshens stale breath,
• Increase milk in nursing mothers,
• External eyewash or compress for red-eye (conjunctivitis) and blepharitis (eye-lid inflammation).

Skin
• Soften and sooth the skin.

Respiratory System
• Calming effect on bronchitis and coughs.

Digestive system
• Beneficial to digestion, Indigestion, Windy colic in infants, Griping,
• A tea made from the seeds is a mild laxative,
• Nausea,
• Mild appetite suppressant, Obesity.

Urinary System
• Water retention (diuretic).

Musculo / Skeletal System
• Externally the oil eases mascular and rheumatic pains.

Preparation and dosage:
TEA:
• Fresh or dried leaves:
3-4 teaspoons to a teapot, add boiling water.
Dose: Adults: half-1 cup; Infants: 2-3 teaspoons.
• Crushed seeds:
Quarter to half a teaspoon to each cup boiling water, infuse for 15 minutes.
Dose: Quarter to half a cup (infants, 2-3 teasponns)

TINCTURE:
Adults: Take 2-4ml three times per day.

Repellant for:
• Cucumber beetle, Mexican Bean beetle, Onion Maggot, Tomato Hornworm.