Fennel Seeds Herb Perennial Swallowtail Butterfly Host Plant Non-GMO 200 Seeds

Description

Fennel Seeds Herb Perennial Butterfly Host Plant Non-GMO 200 Seeds
FENNEL SEEDS
Foeniculum vulgare
Perennial; Grows 36-60 Inches
Popular uses include: Culinary and Butterfly Host Plant for Black Swalowtails
Prefers full sun exposure
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Fennel is an excellent herbal additive to many culinary dishes, including salads, fish, and sauces.
Has an anise-like scent. Plant fennel seeds outside in a sunny spot with well-drained soil.
Native to Europe, Sweet Fennel is now naturalized throughout most of North America after it was introduced in the 18th century.
It is also commonly grown in kitchen gardens throughout the world.
The Anise Swallowtail and the Black Swallowtail Butterfly use Fennel as a host plant during the larval stage.
FAST FACTS
Name: Fennel Seeds
Botanical Name:      Foeniculum vulgare
Life Cycle:     Perennial
Light Requirement:  Full Sun
Planting Season:     Spring
Features:      Culinary, Medicinal, Outdoor, Deer Resistant, Container Garden
Sowing Method:      Direct Sow
Cold Stratification:   No
Ships: Year Round
Seed Coverage: Packet     At least 30 square feet but divide them every 3 years!
ARTICLE from Backyard Butterflies
Better Know a Host Plant: Fennel
Better Know a Host Plant is a series of posts all about common to rare butterfly host plants. Each week during the butterfly season we will feature a host plant that we have experience with, or just find interesting!
Common Name: Fennel
Latin Name: Foeniculum vulgare
Bloom time: June through September
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Drought tolerant
Height: 2-9 feet
Spread: 3-4 feet
Host Plant: Eastern Black Swallowtail
Nectar Plant: Attracts a variety of pollinators
Colors & Cultivars: Small, yellow flowers
Our Experience: Fennel is the primary plant we use for the Black Swallowtail. It readily self-sows so once you have it established, it will be the gift that keeps on giving. And you can never have too much! Our plants never really go fully dormant unless the winter is extremely cold. Even then the plants will start to regrow during January. Seedlings will sprout through the year. Females prefer to lay eggs on younger plants that tend to be out of the direct sun. Plants grown in over 8 hours of sun can grow monsterously tall. The plant featured in the top photo was about 9 feet in height. It was blown down during a thunderstorm. Height can be controlled by hours of sunlight provided.
Pros: Easily grown from seed and will readily self-sow. Can be grown in containers. Fennel tends to be favored for egg laying compared to other host plants. Tolerates benign neglect.  Attracts unusual pollinator insects like beetles, wasps, and assorted flies.
Cons: Readily self-sows requiring a lot of removal of unwanted seedlings. Since it is our primary host plant for Black Swallowtails we don’t mind having all the extra plants.
Interesting Notes: This is not the same type of fennel used for its root. The fronds can be used in cooking and do have a licorice odor that is quite pungent when being used as a host plant for Black Swallowtail caterpillars.
Other insects will lay eggs on fennel so here are some helpful hints for making a positive identification: Black Swallowtail eggs are perfectly round and have a milky to yellowish coloration. They can be seen with the naked eye. Typically you will not see the female lay eggs as she operates under a cloud of secrecy and cover of darkness.
SEED STORING
Store your seeds in a cool, dry and dark location.
Most seeds have a long shelf life, but heat and moisture will cut that life short.
Dedicate a drawer or cabinet to storing your seeds where you can also house your gardening journal close at hand for dreaming, planning and preparing.
WE SHIP FAST & FREE!
Your orders ship the next business date after payment via US mail.
NO TRACKING.
You can add TRACKING for .50 additional (see shipping charges).
ORDER + in the same day and we will ship in a Padded Envelope  with a 50+ Seed Wildflower Gift Pack (500mg)
ORDER + in the same day and we will ship in a First Class Package with TRACKING and two 50+ Seed Wildflower Gift Packs (500mg each)
CUSTOMER SERVICE
We will leave feedback for you within 48 hours of payment!
Leaving Feedback for your seller.  eBay guidelines:
When you receive your seeds please leave a positive for us.
If you have any problem at all no need to leave neutral or negative – message me and we will fix it!
What should I consider before rating a seller's performance?
In general, here's what you should be thinking about when leaving Feedback for a seller:
Did you get what you were expecting, based on the item description?
Was the item packaged appropriately (to prevent damage during shipping)?
Did the seller ship the item within the timeframe indicated in the listing? (Remember that USPS is experiencing delays due to Covid.)
Were the shipping and handling costs reasonable? They are FREE!
If you communicated with the seller, were your questions or concerns addressed?
Did the seller respond within a reasonable amount of time?
Before you consider leaving a negative give the seller a chance to fix the problem.  Negative Feedback directly impacts their business.
If you don’t get your item within 10 working days message me directly.  You do not need to do an Ebay claim – just message.  Give me 48 hours to answer please and I will refund or reship.
Please read the planting instructions!  Some seeds require cold stratification. Some Perennials probably will not bloom until the 2nd year.
Your success and happiness is our success and happiness!
30 Day Return Policy
If you need to return your item, we have a 30 day return policy.  Please return it in the same condition it was received.