Fernleaf Dill (Anethum graveolens 'Fernleaf')
ah-NEE-thum grav-ee-OH-lenz 'Fernleaf'

Annual Compact, Upright in the Apiaceae Family
An AAS Award-winning dwarf dill, slow to bolt, with a compact habit perfect for containers, patios, and small gardens.

Fernleaf is a dwarf selection of dill, growing only 18-20 inches tall — roughly a third the height of standard dill — with the same finely dissected, blue-green, aromatic foliage. It won a 1992 All-America Selections award for its compact habit and, notably, for being slower to bolt (flower and set seed) than full-size dill, which extends the window for harvesting fresh leaves. Its small stature makes it especially well suited to containers, patios, and small garden beds where standard dill would be too tall and prone to flopping.

Pros

  • Compact, dwarf habit (about 18-20in) ideal for containers and small spaces
  • Bred to be slower to bolt than standard dill, extending the leaf harvest
  • 1992 All-America Selections award winner
  • Abundant blue-green, feathery foliage

Cons

  • Smaller stature means less total seed yield than full-size dill
  • Still eventually bolts and declines in hot summer weather
  • Like all dill, resents transplanting due to its taproot
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 18 - 20 inches tall. 10 - 14 inches wide.
Growth Rate Fast
Sun Exposure Full Sun - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium
Zones 2a - 11b (Usually hardy to -50° F)
Tags Annual, Attracts Bees, Attracts Beneficial Insects, Attracts Birds, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Pollinators, Attracts Wildlife, Container, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Edible Foliage, Fragrant Foliage, Full Sun, Full Sun, Herb, Medium, Medium
Bloom Period August to September
Flower Color

Photos of This with...

Imagination Verbena
 
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 02/05 - 05/10
2024 : 02/08 - 06/02
2023 : 04/13 - 05/21

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!