Foeniculum vulgare 'Purpurescens' This is a lovely plant for the herbaceous border whether you want to use it as a culinary herb (with the typical fennel/anniseed scent) or as a dye plant or just for its ferny, airy tall bronze foliage, seen here in the middle of the picture, often used in prairie planting schemes. A hardy perennial, it grows happily in most soils, but tends to die out after a few years. However, its dainty yellow flowers shed seed that readily germinate for future years. It also attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies that eat aphids. (click on each picture for an enlarged view)
Fresh Seeds available now; see seeds section
for dyeing use; fresh whole shoots from Spring to Autumn; for golds and browns
mordant; Alum or Iron
see our books section for Rita Buchanan's book 'A Dyer's Garden' for how to grow and use this and other natural dye plants.