Florence fennel
Foeniculum vulgare
Also called Finocchio and Bulb fennel
Garden plant · Herbs, veg & fruitEarth up the swelling bulb as it forms. Check it never dries, or it bolts instead of fattening.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Hard
- Water
- Every 3 daysWater the ground — water at the base, in the morning, not over the leaves.
- Light
- Full sun
- Feed
- Every 30 days
- Humidity
- Average
- Hardiness
- Hardy — a cold winter RHS H5, to -15°C
- Size
- 1.25 m tall · 0.75 m across
- Lifecycle
- Annual
- Origin
- The Mediterranean
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsSafe for pets
PeopleNothing recorded against it
Safe to eat: bulb, stalks, leaves and seed.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-07-31.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
First signs of trouble
- A ridged flower stem rising from the middle of the plant before the base has begun to swell — the bulb goes woody from that moment on.Bolting · disorder
- Seedlings grazed down to the stalk overnight in damp weather, with slime on the soil beside them.Slugs and snails · pest