Description
Ridolfia segetum | False Fennel ‘Goldspray’
False Fennel, also commonly called False Caraway, Corn Parsley, and Bishops Weed, is an herbaceous annual in the Umbelliferae family that’s native to the Mediterranean basin.
It has an erect stem that’s branched with finely divided, fennel-like leaves. The umbrella-shaped flower clusters are bright yellow and are composed of hundreds of tiny flowers that form an impressive and highly visible head of composite flowers that bloom in early summer.
Smells pleasantly like carrots and is easy to mistake for Dill or Fennel plants in the garden. Similar to dill (Anethum graveolens) and fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), the leaves can be used as a spice and to preserve or pickle cucumbers, olives, and more. The leaves can be eaten in its raw form or cooked. The seeds and leaves of False Fennel contain essential oils with terpenes that give the plant a strong, pungent odor. These include α-phellandrene, α-terpinolene, β-phellandrene, and dillapiol.
Cut flowers are long-lasting in a vase and make a great filler for bouquets.
Type: Annual
Sun exposure: Full sun to part shade
Mature height: 3-4 ft
Mature width: 2 ft
Hardiness zones: 3-9
