Thank you for your interest in herb plants from MeadowSweet Herbs & Flowers. I've closed plant order processing for 2024/5 season. Online orders for plants will open again mid August for pre-orders with plants being shipped from mid September onwards.
Seeds will become available from May.
If you are interested in my Mini Grow & Use Guides, please email me for processing at minette@tonoli.co.nz during the shop's vacation dates.
The physical nursery and gates sales table plant stand is also closed over winter and will be up and running in spring 2025 for the 2025/26 growing season.
Always happy to answer emails, and remember to follow my socials for herb inspiration throughout the year. @meadowsweetherbsnz on both Insta and Facebook.
In Stock
Fennel – Bronze
$6.50
An EVERGREEN PERENNIAL growing to 1.5m with beautiful fine feathery leaves of a dark green to bronze-purple colour and umbels of yellow flowers. Prefers well-drained soil and a full sun position. I can tolerate some drought and strong winds.
All parts of the plant is edible – leaves, stems, root and seed. It is widely used as a domestic herbal medicine for various complaints.
Leaves can be eaten raw or cooked and has a delicious liquorice/aniseed flavour.
Leaf stalks and flower heads can also be eaten raw or cooked and has a similar flavour to the leaves. The seeds are very aromatic and are used in cakes, curries, stuffings etc. Sprouted seeds can be added to salads. Fennel root is cooked somewhat like parsnips. A flavoursome tea is made from the seeds.
With an impresive list of medicinal actions including antiinflammatory, antispasmodic, diuretic, expectorant and stimulant, Fennel is useful in a variety of complaints. Particularly good for settling the digestive system – especially the seeds. Gargle for sore throats or wash sore eyes with a mild infusion. Safe and effective cure for wind in babies. It is also effective for coughing and bronchitis.
The plant has been used as a home remedy against fleas (crushed leaves). Yellow and brown dyes are obtained from the flowers and leaves combined. Fennel is said to be alelopathic and may inhibit the growth of other plants around it.
