Crop type: Florence Fennel
Foeniculum vulgare var. azoricum ‘Dragon’
Common name: Fennel (Florence) ‘Dragon’
Crop slug: florence-fennel
This Allotment Pro editorial draft summarises the cited RHS cultivar profile. Check the source and adjust cultivation decisions for local conditions.RHS cultivar profile
1 - Overview
‘Dragon’ is a compact F1 hybrid Florence fennel, growing to about 75cm with finely divided, feathery bright-green foliage. It is cultivated for rounded, swollen stem bases with an aniseed flavour. Excellent resistance to bolting and yellowing makes it a strong choice where maintaining steady growth is challenging.
If a bulb is left unharvested, or a plant is stressed by hot dry weather, it may produce yellow flowers in flat umbels. The RHS profile displays the Award of Garden Merit.
2 - Size
- Ultimate height
- 0.5–1 metre
- Ultimate spread
- 0.1–0.5 metre
- Time to ultimate size
- 1 year
Its compact spread suits productive vegetable beds and large containers while retaining the upright, airy foliage typical of fennel.
3 - Growing conditions
- Suitable soils
- Chalk, clay, loam or sand
- Moisture
- Moist but well-drained or well-drained
- Soil pH
- Acid, neutral or alkaline
The cultivar tolerates a broad range of soil textures and pH values. Reliable moisture with free drainage is important, particularly because hot dry stress can still initiate flowering despite its resistance to bolting.
4 - Position and hardiness
- Light
- Full sun
- Aspect
- South-, east- or west-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- Hardiness
- H2 — tolerant of low temperatures but not freezing conditions
Use a warm, sheltered site and harvest the vegetable crop within its growing season rather than expecting the plants to withstand winter frost.
5 - Colour and seasonal interest
Bright-green, finely dissected leaves rise above rounded pale swollen stems. Yellow umbel flowers may appear if plants are left beyond harvest or checked by hot dry conditions, but the intended edible stage is the compact leafy plant before flowering.
6 - Botanical details
- Family
- Apiaceae
- Native to Great Britain and Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Name status
- Accepted
Genus
Foeniculum consists of large aromatic biennial or perennial plants with finely dissected foliage, umbels of small yellow flowers and aromatic fruits. Florence fennel selections are harvested in their first season for swollen leaf bases.
7 - How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in moist but well-drained soil in full sun. Maintain steady water through bulb formation and harvest once the rounded base is mature. Preventing unmanaged flowering also limits the chance of fennel spreading beyond its allotted position.
Propagation
Propagate by seed.
Suggested locations
- Wildlife garden
- Sunny edible garden
- Sheltered allotment bed
Pruning
No pruning is required. Harvest plants when mature.
Pests
May be susceptible to aphids and slugs. Check the feathery foliage for sap-feeders and protect young plants from molluscs.
Diseases
May be susceptible to root rots. Free drainage and careful watering around the base reduce avoidable risk.