Fennel
Fennel tea is good for the digestion and opens the appetite. Diuretic. It is also good for bronchitis or cough. Grow fennl around the home for protection. Hang garlands of fennel at the windows to ward off evil spirits. It is used in purification sachets.

Okay, I gotta ask. What does fennel planted around the house protect you from, and is the Department of Homeland security aware of it??

(( Sheryl))

A very nice photo of fennel
What type is it? would you consider adding it to the database?

I had fennel sprout right outside my back door this spring; right where I tossed the chaff from seed cleaning. Guess we're protected from....whatever it is.

Wow, I'm so glad you did that!!!

I had the same question! Must be elephants as I've heard no reports of them seen in Indiana.

I love fennel in my salad...the bulbs. The bulbs are wonderful raw, in slivers, with lemon juice and salt sprinkled over them....

Huh, really? Never heard that before. Do the bulbs have the same anise-like taste that the leaves have?

Sheryl--bulbing fennel does have the same anise-like flavor as the leaves. However, not all fennel is the bulbing type. You can also let the foliage flower and go to seed---the seeds also have that wonderful anise flavor. The fennel bulbs can be used in salads, is wonderful sauteed, and can be roasted with other root vegetables. I love to use them in my cooking.

The seeds are wonderful mixed with other spices (crushed cumin, coriender, sea salt) to top focaccia.

Interesting, thanks!

Every time I make homemade soup these days, I toss in Fennel seeds. Love them. ♥

A friend of mine grows bulb fennel. They are more popular in other countries than here, I believe. I have a bronze fennel blooming...in December! Hadn't bloomed all year, but oh well, some of the plants are confused this year!

I have bronze fennel growing against the house. For it's protection not mine. LOL I love the fragrance, taste of both foliage and seeds, and just the beauty of the plant.

I agree, it is a beautiful plant. I enjoy the foliage too.

Are there any hardy fennels?

Sheryl, fennel is hardy from zone 5.

Huh - I must have picked the one non-hardy fennel - Florence fennel? 'e's dead.

'Twas Bronze Fennel of which I spoke. I should have been more specific.

That's okay - I'm not sure if it's because it wasn't hardy or because I planted it late, anyway.

Florence fennel is the bulbing type--I don't think that's a perennial anywhere. The bronze fennel is beautiful, and can reseed vigorously under the right conditions. I"ve not found it to be a problem in our zone, but a bad winter can wipe out about anything here The butterflies certainly do love fennel, which is an added bonus in my book.