Native Plant Alternatives to Foeniculum vulgare (Fennel)

Foeniculum vulgare, commonly known as fennel, is considered invasive in some regions. While it is often grown as an herb for culinary use, fennel has the ability to escape cultivation and become established in natural habitats, where it can compete with native plant species for resources.

Fennel is native to the Mediterranean region, but it has become naturalized in many parts of the world, including North America, Australia, and parts of South America and Asia. It often grows in disturbed habitats, such as roadsides and waste areas, and in coastal habitats.

Fennel is listed in the Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States.

In the U.S., fennel is particularly problematic in California, where it is considered an invasive species because of its ability to spread and displace native plant communities. It has been known to dominate whole landscapes to the exclusion of other species, particularly in coastal habitats. Its thick stands not only crowd out native plants, but also change the structure and function of the ecosystems where it invades.

Fennel’s invasiveness is enhanced by its prolific seed production and its ability to resprout from the root crown after being cut down. It is also unpalatable to most wildlife and livestock, allowing it to spread unchecked in pastures.

According to the U.S Forest Service, Invasive species have contributed to the decline of 42% of U.S. endangered and threatened species and 18% of U.S. endangered or threatened species. Invasive species compete directly with native species for moisture, sunlight, nutrients, and space. They displace and alter native plant communities, degrade wildlife habitat and water quality, and potentially lead to increased soil erosion.

The federal government has estimated that nearly 25 percent of the 20,000 plant species native to North America are at risk of extinction, many of these through habitat loss. You can help reverse this trend by planting great native plants in your garden.

A plant is considered native if it occurs naturally in a particular region or ecosystem without human introduction. There are many benefits to growing native plants. First, these plants are better adapted to soils, moisture, and weather than exotic plants that evolved in other parts of the world. They need fewer fertilizers and pesticides or use less water. Second, they are unlikely to escape and become invasive, destroying natural habitats. Third, they support wildlife, providing shelter and food for native birds and insects, while exotic plants do not.