Flower Library
Fennel
Foeniculum · Apiaceae
Ornamental fennel brings two things to a bouquet that hardly any other flower delivers: filigree, yellow-green to bronze umbels with a graphic effect, and a fine aniseed scent that lingers in the workshop while you arrange. In modern natural-style floristry it has gone from kitchen herb to sought-after design element. In season we gladly bring it back from the Veiling Rhein-Maas, above all for summery and autumnal meadow bouquets.
- Season
- June – July – August – September – October
- Vase life
- 5–10 days
- Latin name
- Foeniculum
- Colors
- Yellow-green, Bronze, Copper (foliage of bronze fennel varieties)
For cutting, mostly Foeniculum vulgare is used, with bronze fennel of the variety Purpureum, its feathery foliage washed in copper, especially in demand. The umbels are cut at different stages: flowering yellow-green, half-ripe in bronze, or as fully ripe seed heads with an almost metallic effect.
In floral work fennel behaves like a coarser, warmer ammi: the plate-shaped umbels set horizontal planes in an arrangement and give it structure without densifying it. The bronze-copper of ripe umbels looks especially fine against warm autumn colours, next to dahlias, sunflowers and rudbeckia.
The scent is a chapter of its own: when cut and handled, fennel releases its typical aniseed aroma. In fragrant bouquets that is a bonus, but for table arrangements next to food the strong herbal scent should be a conscious choice.
When buying we look for firm stems and umbels that are not already shedding. Fully ripe seed heads last longer than freshly flowering umbels, but drop seeds when knocked, which shows on pale table linen.
A tip from 45 years in the trade: never store fennel in the cold room right next to delicate scented flowers, the aroma transfers. And if you dry the umbels, you get filigree structures for dried bouquets that last for months.
Is Fennel toxic to children and pets?
- Children
- Non-toxic
- Cats
- Non-toxic
- Dogs
- Non-toxic
Fennel is considered non-toxic to cats, dogs and people and is familiar as a culinary and tea plant. Cut material is still not a foodstuff and should not be eaten.
Overview: toxic & non-toxic plants for cats, dogs and children
Care
- 01Give the stems a fresh, angled cut; fennel is a soft-stemmed cut and drinks a lot.
- 02Remove the fine foliage from the lower stem so nothing rots in the water.
- 03Provide plenty of fresh water with flower food and check it daily.
- 04Keep cool and out of direct sun; this noticeably extends vase life.
- 05Handle ripe seed umbels gently, as they shed when knocked.
- 06To dry, hang the umbels upside down in an airy spot.
Frequently asked
- How long does ornamental fennel last in the vase?
- Freshly flowering umbels last around five to seven days, ripe seed heads ten days and more. Plenty of water and a cool spot matter most; then the fine foliage also stays fresh longer.
- Is fennel in a bouquet toxic to pets?
- No, fennel is considered non-toxic to cats and dogs and is of course familiar as a culinary and tea herb. Large amounts can upset sensitive stomachs, but the odd nudge at the bouquet is harmless.
- Can you eat the fennel from the bouquet?
- We advise against it. Ornamental cut material is not produced as food and may have been treated with plant protection products. For cooking, please use fennel from the grocery store; in the bouquet it is there for the eyes and nose only.
- When is ornamental fennel available as a cut flower?
- The season runs from June into October. High summer brings the yellow-green flowering umbels, and from late summer the bronze, ripe seed heads arrive, which we especially like for autumn arrangements.