I've had bronze fennel in my herb garden for 6 years, and have not been able to harvest a fennel bulb. Help?

Question

The growth is wonderful, attaining about 2 1/2 feet with plentiful fronds to snip the herb. I use it plenty, and also harvest the tasty seeds that work well in my homemade bread recipes and curries. But I've been trying to harvest a fennel bulb to roast and there is no such bulb! I don't see a bulb, just roots. Is bronze fennel not the right herb and I need just the straightforward 'fennel'?

Answer 1

Correct, they are different varieties. Bronze fennel is Foeniculum vulgare subsp. 'Rubrum' while bulb fennel is Foeniculum vulgare subsp. azoricum (Florence fennel, bulb fennel, finocchio, anise.)