INVASIVE FENNEL: Off With Their Heads

On Saturday, our habitat restoration intern, Siena, led a volunteer crew to remove wild fennel plants from the trail corridor at Baron Ranch. A big thank you to Jim, Sharon, Michele, Brett, Joey, Caroline, Dana, Vivia, Mark, and, of course, Siena, for their support for local environmental stewardship! The work is never-ending.

Wild fennel is easy to identify due to its distinct licorice smell. The leaves are finely divided into thread-like segments, giving them a feathery and lacy appearance. As the plant matures, it produces small clusters of yellow flowers known as umbels.

Although these plants may look harmless as they line the trail, they are actually non-native invasive species. Wild fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) is an upright, branching perennial that thrives in disturbed areas. It is the same plant that is cultivated in gardens or sold in stores—just gone wild.

Removing wild fennel can be challenging due to its extensive taproots, which make the process labor-intensive. It would be fantastic if there were a market for wild fennel, as we could use help in reducing its population along our trails and in other areas of the County. The entire plant is edible.

If you would like to join us next time we're tackling invasive plants or repairing trail corridors, sign up here:

•  Habitat Restoration Volunteer Sign-Up: https://santabarbaratrails.org/get-involved/volunteering/habitat-restoration/

• Trail Stewards Volunteer Sign-Up: https://santabarbaratrails.org/get-involved/volunteering/trail-stewards/

PS. If you missed it, check out Siena's video promotion for the "Off With Their Heads" habitat restoration day.