Fennel

Bronze Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare 'Purpureum') is a stunning architectural herb with feathery, dark bronze foliage that smells strongly of anise. It is highly attractive to swallowtail butterflies, who use it as a host plant for their caterpillars. It tolerates most soil types, including poor clay, provided it isn't completely waterlogged. It is extremely drought-tolerant once a taproot is established. To prevent it from aggressively self-seeding and becoming a weed, cut off the yellow flower heads before they go to seed. The foliage can be chopped back to the ground in winter when it dies back.