Smoky fennel

Foeniculum vulgare 'Purpureum'

Elegant, slightly moodily coloured, fern-like foliage

A beautiful filler in deep purple-bronze, this one is tall and elegant and smells divine. The flowers are golden yellow, structural umbels.

Yes, this is what I have always known as bronze fennel, but in discussions with people in the States, they let slip that, over the Atlantic, it is known as ‘smoky’. I determined that very minute to never call it anything else.

Perennial and also self-sows. Promise me you will cut every last flower or seed head, unless you want to be hoeing it out of your paths in perpetuity.