WHITE BULB MOMENT

FROM BOTTOM TO TOP, SEEDS AND ALL, THE ANISEED WEED IS A LICORICE TREAT

- Chloe Thomson

Fabulously fragrant fennel is a delight to grow in the garden. Just brushing past it and releasing that subtle aniseed aroma makes me smile and think of all the things I’d like to cook with it.

Despite my love of it, fennel isn’t always seen so favourably. In many parts of Australia, Foeniculum vulgare is a noxious declared weed and gardeners are encouraged to grow its less weedy relatives including ‘Florence’ and ‘Bronze Fennel’ (see note on varieties).

The wild or weedy fennel is still edible but it doesn’t produce the swollen stem bases or bulbs that we love so much. Bulb fennel can be eaten raw, sautéed, roasted and made into tasty soups.