# fennel (*Foeniculum vulgare*) Fennel is a tall plant with feathery leaves and a sweet, anise-like smell. It grows tall and has yellow flowers that attract butterflies. People use fennel in cooking for its tasty seeds and crunchy stems! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 9 - **Habitat:** Urban areas - **Also known as:** Finocchio, Sweet Fennel ![fennel](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Fennel_%28Foeniculum_vulgare%29_-_Parc_Natural_de_s'Albufera%252C_Spain_2022-04-18_%2802%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Ryan Hodnett, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fennel_%28Foeniculum_vulgare%29_-_Parc_Natural_de_s'Albufera%252C_Spain_2022-04-18_%2802%29.jpg) ## Appearance The fennel has delicate, feathery, bright green leaves that look a bit like dill but are much taller. Its tall, hollow stems are topped with clusters of tiny, bright yellow flowers, forming flat-topped umbrellas. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Apiales - **Family:** Apiaceae - **Genus:** Foeniculum ## Interesting facts - Ancient Romans used fennel for both food and medicine, believing it brought strength! - Butterflies, like the Swallowtail, love to lay their eggs on fennel plants. - Fennel seeds were once hung above doorways to ward off evil spirits. - The bulb of fennel tastes like a mild, sweet licorice! ## Special abilities - **Scent Shield:** Fennel has strong aromatic compounds that help it deter some pests while attracting beneficial insects for pollination. - **Water Seeker:** Fennel can grow a deep taproot that helps it reach underground water, allowing it to survive in drier conditions. - **Tall & Strong:** Fennel has hollow stems that make it both light and surprisingly strong, helping it stand tall even in windy areas. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 90-180 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 5-15 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Bees collect nectar and pollen from its flowers. - **Depends on:** Old World Swallowtail (*Papilio machaon*) — Larvae (caterpillars) feed on fennel leaves. - **Pollinates:** Marmalade hoverfly (*Syrphus ribesii*) — Hoverflies visit fennel flowers for nectar. ## Traits - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Biennial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/biennial): Biennial plants complete their life cycle over two growing seasons, typically forming foliage in the first year and flowering/seeding in the second. - [Agricultural](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/agricultural): This human use trait describes species cultivated or domesticated by humans for agricultural purposes, including crops and livestock. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Spice](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spice): This human use trait indicates species from which spices are derived, used for flavoring, preserving food, or as aromatic agents. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always wash fennel before eating it to keep it clean and safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify fennel? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is fennel? 90-180 cm ### How wide does fennel spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on fennel? 5-15 cm ### When does fennel bloom? Summer ### Is fennel edible? Yes ### Is fennel toxic? None ### What is fennel's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Benbow Lake State Recreation Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/benbow-lake-state-recreation-area) — California, US · State Park - [Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/crystal-springs-rhododendron-garden) — Oregon, US · Botanical Garden - [Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/elkhorn-slough-national-estuarine-research-reserve) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Lotusland](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lotusland) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Old Town Pasadena](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/old-town-pasadena) — California, US · Historic District - [Prospect Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/prospect-historic-district) — California, US · Historic District [View all places to see fennel](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/fennel) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Fennel: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/fennel)