Grosfruchtiger Leaf Fennel Seed

$3.25

A superstar German non-bulbing variety known as sweet fennel that delivers irresistible sweet licorice flavor. Not only will your kitchen thank you for these delicate feathery fronds, but your garden will become a magnet for beautiful Swallowtail butterflies! They love it as a host plant. Nothing matches Grosfruchtiger's incredible flavor or butterfly appeal. It's the perfect two-for-one deal. The flavor becomes stronger as the plant matures.

Full size packet of 100+ seeds.

JOY MAX QUALITIES

  • Most potent and flavorful fennel variety available

  • Strong sweet licorice flavor that intensifies with maturity

  • Outstanding cooking herb when used fresh

  • Medicinal properties that aid digestion when used in teas

  • Versatile culinary uses in salads, coleslaw, and dressings

  • Edible golden-yellow flowers that pair well with fish, potato, tomato, and beef dishes

  • Attracts beneficial pollinators to your garden

  • Vigorous leaf production for abundant harvests

  • Non-bulbing type focusing energy on lush foliage

  • Beautiful feathery fronds add ornamental value to gardens

  • Open-pollinated

NOTE: Plant away from your garden as fennel suppresses the germination and growth of plants in its immediate area.

A superstar German non-bulbing variety known as sweet fennel that delivers irresistible sweet licorice flavor. Not only will your kitchen thank you for these delicate feathery fronds, but your garden will become a magnet for beautiful Swallowtail butterflies! They love it as a host plant. Nothing matches Grosfruchtiger's incredible flavor or butterfly appeal. It's the perfect two-for-one deal. The flavor becomes stronger as the plant matures.

Full size packet of 100+ seeds.

JOY MAX QUALITIES

  • Most potent and flavorful fennel variety available

  • Strong sweet licorice flavor that intensifies with maturity

  • Outstanding cooking herb when used fresh

  • Medicinal properties that aid digestion when used in teas

  • Versatile culinary uses in salads, coleslaw, and dressings

  • Edible golden-yellow flowers that pair well with fish, potato, tomato, and beef dishes

  • Attracts beneficial pollinators to your garden

  • Vigorous leaf production for abundant harvests

  • Non-bulbing type focusing energy on lush foliage

  • Beautiful feathery fronds add ornamental value to gardens

  • Open-pollinated

NOTE: Plant away from your garden as fennel suppresses the germination and growth of plants in its immediate area.

Swallowtail Butterfly Host Plant Herb Collection
Swallowtail Butterfly Host Plant Herb Collection
$12.00

Part of the Swallowtail Butterfly Host Plant Herb Collection.

Fennel forms flowers in year two. They are also edible!

Foeniculum vulgare HARDINESS ZONE: Annual / Tender perennial 7-10 PLANT HEIGHT: 24-36" PLANT WIDTH: 10-12” SEED SPACING: 1-2" / Thin to 4-12" as they grow SEED DEPTH: 1/4-1/2" deep IDEAL TEMP: 65-70°F (18-21°C) GERMINATION: 7-14 days DAYS TO MATURITY: 50 - 60 SOIL: Moist, fertile, and well-drained LIGHT: Full Sun / Part Shade
 

In my experience, fennel is the most popular host plant for Swallowtail Butterflies. They prefer it over the other host plants in my garden by a wide margin.

PLANTING INFORMATION

Can be direct seeded (recommended) or started in containers for transplanting. Select a location with full sun and well-draining soil. Sow seeds ¼ inch deep when temps are mild. If planting in the fall, you’ll need to protect from frost and freezes. Seeds germinate in 7-14 days at 65-70°F (18-21°C). Eventually thin seedlings to 5-12 inches apart as they grow. Water regularly, maintaining consistent soil moisture without overwatering. Harvest leaves and stems before flowering for best flavor. For seed production, allow plants to flower in their second year. Plants may produce seeds the first year in areas with a long cool spring. Harvest seeds as they begin to turn their characteristic grayish-green color.

HARVEST INFORMATION

  • Leaves/Stems: Harvest before flowering for fresh use (check for baby Swallowtails!)

  • Flowers: Harvest florets for culinary garnishes

  • Seeds: Harvest in second year as they turn grayish-green

  • Roots: Can be harvested in fall of first year

  • Flavor Development: Mild at baby-leaf stage (young plants) Fuller, more intense at 8-12 inches tall

  • Note: Excessive moisture during bloom can prevent seed formation

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