Giant fennel spectacle six years in the making
The plant I’m most excited about at the moment isn’t a succulent at all. It’s a giant fennel (Ferula communis), an herbaceous perennial from the Mediterranean with fine-cut arching foliage that dies back in the summer and reappears with the rains in the winter. I bought it from Annie’s Annuals in October 2019 in a 4-inch pot, and it’s finally flowering. As you’ll see below, this isn’t a dainty little thing; it’s a sturdy plant 4 ft. tall and wide, with a flower stalk that reaches a good 10 ft. into the sky. In fact, from a distance, the flower stalk looks a lot like that of an agave!
 |
| Agave flower stalk? No, giant fennel! |
Based on what I’ve read, Ferula communis is most likely monocarpic, i.e. it will die after flowering and setting seed. Some sources, however, claim that the plant will live on if you remove the flower stalk before seeds are produced. I don’t know yet what I’ll do, but I’m tempted to let it complete its lifecycle to see what happens then.
Below is a pictorial chronicle of my specimen. I didn’t take a lot of photos in the early years because the plant was so small, but there are many from this year.
2019
 |
| Purchased at Annie’s Annuals on October 6, 2019 in a 4" pot (top right) |
2024
 |
| February 17, 2024 |
 |
| March 20, 2024. Nope, it wasn’t going to bloom after all. |
2025
 |
| March 27, 2025. This is when it became clear that it would flower this year. The juvenile tree aloe to the right of it is beginning to disappear under the rapidly growing foliage. |
 |
| April 2, 2025 |
 |
| April 2, 2025. Massive stems hidden under the ferny foliage. |
 |
| April 14, 2025 |
 |
| April 14, 2025 |
 |
| April 18, 2025 |
 |
| April 18, 2025 |
Key characteristics of Ferula communis:
Appearance:
Tall, branched, upright stems with feathery leaves and round umbels of tiny yellow flowers.
Growth habits:
A perennial that appears in the winter and dies back in the summer. Monocarpic, i.e. it dies after flowering, which may take 5+ years from seed (maybe).
Toxicity:
Toxic to animals like sheep, goats, cattle, and horses, and possibly also to pets and humans.
Uses:
- Gum ammoniac is obtained from the root and used as incense and medicinally.
- Stems are used in furniture making.
- Dried pith is used as tinder.
- Historically, the sap was used for various ailments.
Ferula communis in mythology:
In Ancient Greece, Ferula communis was connected to myths, particularly Prometheus who stole fire from the gods and hid it inside a stem of Ferula communis. In Morocco, it is associated with magic and sorcery.
Cultivation:
Prefers well-drained loam soil and full sun. In colder climates, requires protection in the winter with a thick, dry mulch.
It'd be an interesting experiment to see if it can live to see another year - and another round of bloom - by cutting the stalk before it goes to seed. Growing another one from seed is clearly a long-term proposition!
ReplyDeleteGerhard, I put up a post on the giant fennel in 2019 and received this comment re monocarpism. It's unclear whether he's referring to colonies of plants of varying ages or is truly certain that each individual plant reblooms: "It is Ferula communis and it most certainly is not monocarpic in Cyprus. I have been here for 15 years now and witnessed them at the roadside in abundance, getting bigger and bigger each year in the same locations. I collected and sowed seeds 3 years ago and raised over 30 young plants some of which are flowering for the first time right now at about 2′" (https://agrowingobsession.com/?p=90115)
ReplyDeleteSo cool - at a distance it looks like a mutant aeonium on steroids!
ReplyDeleteSuch a great oddity! Even more exciting that you had to wait years before it bloomed. Your purchase photo reminds me to do that more often. Are bees attracted to the bloom?
ReplyDelete