Sweet Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) is not native to California and is considered an invasive plant species. However, it is an important host plant for Swallowtail butterflies. It is common along roadways and urban habitats in San Diego County.

Sweet Fennel have yellow flowers and its roots, leaves, and seeds have been used throughout the world for cooking and medicinal purposes. It can be found in coastal sage scrub and coastal succulent scrub regions in our county as well as northwestern Baja California, Mexico.

To see more photographs of Sweet Fennel, please visit the San Diego Natural History Museum’s Flora of Baja California database.

PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy Fir0002 / Flagstraffotos