(tips on growing fennel in your garden)
Fennel’s strong aroma and flavor make it a garden favorite. Unfortunately, those same attributes make it a poor companion plant.
Fennel companion planting options are limited and we strongly recommend to any gardener who is considering adding fennel to their garden to be mindful of what plants do not do well when planted near fennel. Be sure to also check out our guides on growing fennel and companion planting with herbs.
Fennel Companion Planting
Fennel is a highly aromatic and slightly odd plant that is pretty much a poor companion plant for everything.
Fennel companion planting generally only works when growing dill. However, even dill is a poor choice because the two herbs tend to cross-pollinate.
Fennel & Insects.
Fennel attracts a variety of beneficial insects including ladybugs, syrphid flies, tachninid flies, beneficial parasitoid wasps and hoverflies and other beneficial predator insects to your garden. Aphids are said to find fennel exceptionally offensive and are strongly repelled by it.
Fennel as a flea repellant.
Fennel is a strong repellent for fleas. An old gardening mantra suggested to “plant fennel near your kennel” to protect your pooch from fleas. Dried fennel leaves will provide additional flea deterrence when put inside the dog house or kennel.
Additional Fennel Information
(Fæniculum officinale, All.)
To learn more about growing fennel be sure to check out our fennel fact sheet. And to find out how fennel was used during medieval times to prevent ghosts from entering dwellings and other historical and modern uses for fennel, read our article on fennel history and uses.