Giant Anise Fennel (Ferula communis) seeds, organic

Family: Carrot (Apiaceae)

Hardy to zones 7 to 10

Biennial, sometimes perennial.  Native to  northern Africa, the Mediterranean basin and Europe.  Flowers bright gold, emitting a deep anise aroma. The circumference at the base of the dark red, flowering stalk of one plant measured 9 inches, and the plant itself towered to 10 feet.  Attracts beneficial insects by the score–honeybees, wasps, ladybugs, butterflies, sweat bees, bumblebees… This kind of plant is very useful to help assure good pollination on associated food and medicinal crops. Source plant for an aromatic gum called “ammoniac of Maroc.”  Don’t eat the leaves.  Plant prefers full sun and fast draining soils.  Sow in fall or spring.  A 10 to 20 day period of moist refrigeration (put seeds in a plastic bag of moist coir or peat and refrigerate) before sowing can improve germination response.  Lay seed flat on potting soil, cover 1/4 inch deep, tamp securely and keep warm (not hot) and evenly moist until germination. In a test, seeds refrigerated from 8/25/23 to day of planting in greenhouse on 9/12/23 germinated on 10_12_23, a 47 day induction period. Individuate seedlings and work up in pots until sufficiently sized to transplant out to the landscape.  Space at least 3 feet apart–they are rather large plants.

Packet contains 20 seeds
10 g contains ~200 seeds
Certified Organically Grown