This week on The Horti-Culturalists we present our very own Olympic special! Ferula communis, commonly known as the giant fennel (for reasons that will become obvious when you see the flower!) has an extraordinary connection with the myths of Ancient Greece and particularly the Ancient Olympics! And horticulturally the plant is incredibly useful in the winter garden. It sends up bursts of airy bright green leaves early winter when everything else is looking decidedly drab, followed by a massive flower spike up to 10 feet, or 4m, tall in early spring. This all then dies down by late spring in time for your other perennials to begin their own summer magic! And Stephen uses Clematis 'Mrs. Robert Brydon' to take the place of Ferula communis in summer.
0:00 introduction
0:37 Ferula communis - not an edible herb
1:07 foliage
1:16 flowering
2:12 Olympic connection
3:32 natural range
4:11 hardiness
4:34 where to use it in the garden
5:02 to replace it summer Stephen uses Clematis 'Mrs. Robert Brydon'
