Foeniculum vulgare Smokey | Ornamental Bronze Fennel | Cut Foliage & Herb

Foeniculum vulgare ‘Smokey’ | Bronze fennel

Ornamental Fennel · Bronze-Leaved Fennel · Cut Foliage & Herb

An elegant ornamental fennel variety grown for its finely divided, smoky bronze foliage and airy, architectural habit. Foeniculum vulgare ‘Smokey’ brings lightness and movement to flower borders, herb gardens, and naturalistic plantings, with feathery leaves shimmering in tones of pewter, bronze, and soft plum.

In summer, delicate yellow umbels rise above the foliage, attracting bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. Both the aromatic leaves and seeds are fully edible and can be used just like traditional fennel — making ‘Smokey’ as practical as it is beautiful.

A favorite among flower growers for cut foliage, ‘Smokey’ adds texture, height, and contrast to bouquets and arrangements. Hardy, drought-tolerant, and graceful even when left to seed.

Plant Details

• Botanical name: Foeniculum vulgare
• Variety: Smokey
• Common name: Fennel
• Family: Apiaceae
• Life cycle: Tender perennial (often grown as annual)
• Hybrid status: Open pollinated
• Year of introduction: 1982
• Height: approx. 150 cm 
  
• Crop type: Leafy crops
• Flowering period: August – October
• Days to maturity: 50–60 days
• Best months to sow: I–V

Leaves are widely used as a fragrant filler in floral arrangements. Seeds can be harvested and used as a spice in both sweet and savory dishes, while fresh foliage adds an aniseed note to salads, fish, and vegetable recipes.

Germination Instructions

• Sowing method: Direct sow
• Sow time: 2–3 weeks before the last expected frost
• Sowing depth: 10 mm
• Plant spacing: 30 cm
• Ideal germination temperature: 15–18 °C
• Germination time: 10–14 days
• Successional sowing: Sow every 2 weeks for a continuous supply of stems for cutting

Growing Instructions

• Prefers moist, well-drained, fertile soil
• Best grown in full sun
• Water during dry periods 1–2 times per week
• An easy-care variety suitable for both gardens and flower production

Cultivation & Maintenance

• Will self-seed freely
• Remove unwanted seedlings early, before the deep taproot develops
• For seed saving, secure a muslin bag around the seed head
• After flowering, cut stems back to approx. 30 cm above ground