Sweet Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) is also called Common Fennel & Sweet Anise. Black & Anise Swallowtails crave the aromatic blooms & use the leaves as a host plant during the larval stage. Fennel is an aromatic herb commonly used in cooking. It also has been used for medicinal purposes. As a perennial, it will die back in the winter & regrow every spring (Zones 5-11). The bright yellow flowers will bloom during the summer, & Fennel will quickly spread by self-seeding if spent flowers are not removed. The leaves are thin & thread-like, with a feathery texture. Fennel survives light frosts, but will only survive over winter outdoors (assuming you didn’t harvest the bulb) in zones 6-10. in zones 2-5 it grows as a biennial. It tolerates some heat & cold but does best when it reaches maturity in cool weather. Depending on your climate, seeds may be sown in early spring, mid-spring, late summer, & early fall. Sweet Fennel seeds need darkness to germinate, so cover them with of dirt. Seedlings will appear in about 7-10 days. Thin successful seedlings 10-12 inches apart. If planting in rows, space them 2-3 apart. They will take about 7-10 days to emerge. To improve germination, try soaking & pre-sprouting the seed for several days. Fennel re-seeds itself readily. Florence Fennel | Foeniculum Vulgare Florence Packet Of 25 Seeds With Free Shipping
