Ferula communis
Giant Fennel
About the plant
What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.
- Habit
- perennialPlants of the World Online
- Flower
- YellowRead from the photograph on this page
- Native range
- Albania, Algeria, Baleares, Canary Is., Corse, Cyprus and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.
Sources: Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Read from the photograph on this page — Deno's Garden; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.
Worth knowing
- In Greek myth, Prometheus brought fire to mortals hidden in its hollow stalk. Devotees of Dionysus carried a staff made from it, the thyrsus. Wikipedia: Ferula communis
- Rods for punishment were made from its stalks; the Swedish word färla, for a disciplinary tool once used in schools, comes from it. Wikipedia: Ferula communis
This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.
Protocol 1
DerivedSER, INSR and RBG Kew, 2026Difficulty Low
Start around January 25, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.
Cold moist stratification
Duration: 70 daysTemperature: 50°F 10°C Light: eitherMedium: 1% agar
12 hours light, 12 dark.
Germination happens during step 1, in 70 days.
100% germination in 70 days.
It germinates in the cold rather than after it. SID holds 20 such records.
Protocol 2
DerivedSER, INSR and RBG Kew, 2026Difficulty Low
Start around March 22, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.
Cold moist stratification
Duration: 14 daysTemperature: 59°F 15°C Light: eitherMedium: 1% agar
8 hours light, 16 dark.
Germination happens during step 1, in 14 days.
100% germination in 14 days.
How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.
Germination trials
Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials
No trials shared for this species yet.