Ocimum basilicum
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- OH-sih-mum bass-IL-ih-kum
- Description
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Sweet basil, is an herb in the Lamiaceae (mint) family native to the tropical regions of Africa and Asia. The fragrant edible leaves are great in soups, stews, and other meat dishes.
Sweet basil prefers full sun and moist, well-drained soils. It is easily transplanted and should be done so after the last frost. Prune by pinching the tips of long stems and any flower buds. This promotes a branching bushy form.
Ornamental varieties often have showy purple foliage, making them perfect for containers. Plant in a bed or window box to create contrasting colored foliage. Miniature varieties are also available which are great for mass plantings along the edge of flower beds.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Aphids and Japanese beetle are occasional insect problems. Fusarium wilt and basil downy mildew are disease problems. There are several cultivars that are resistant to basil downy mildew.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Nuts" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Mostly Native Vegetable, Herb and Pollinator Garden Vegetable Garden and Pollinator Plants
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Anise'
Ornamental flowers with purple-tinted leaves. Fragrance and taste is similar to anise. 2'-2 1/2' tall. - 'Cinnamon'
Flowers and stems are purple in color. Strong cinnamon fragrance. 2'-2 1/2' tall. - 'Genovese'
Larger leaves than traditional basil. 2' tall. - 'Greek Columnar'
- 'Greek Dwarf'
Compact 6" tall, spicy slightly anise flavor - Prospera® Compact DMR
Basil downy mildew resistant - Prospera® DMR
Basily downy mildew resistant - Prospera® Italian Large Leaf DMR
Basil downy mildew resistant - 'Purple Ruffles'
Dark purple ruffled and fringed leaves - 'Queen of Sheba'
Often used as an ornamental, but also edible, compact good for containers - ‘Rutgers Devotion-DMR'
Resistant to basil downy mildew - 'Rutgers Obsession-DMR’
Resistant to basil downy mildew - 'Rutgers Passion'-DMR
Resistant to basil downy mildew - ‘Rutgers Thunderstruck-DMR'
Resistant to basil downy mildew - 'Siam Queen'
Large leaves with purple flowers and stems. Flavor resembles spicy licorice-mint. Winner of the 1997 All American Selection.
- 'Anise'
- 'Anise', 'Cinnamon', 'Genovese', 'Greek Columnar', 'Greek Dwarf', Prospera® Compact DMR, Prospera® DMR, Prospera® Italian Large Leaf DMR, 'Purple Ruffles', 'Queen of Sheba', ‘Rutgers Devotion-DMR', 'Rutgers Obsession-DMR’, 'Rutgers Passion'-DMR, ‘Rutgers Thunderstruck-DMR', 'Siam Queen'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Anise'
Ornamental flowers with purple-tinted leaves. Fragrance and taste is similar to anise. 2'-2 1/2' tall. - 'Cinnamon'
Flowers and stems are purple in color. Strong cinnamon fragrance. 2'-2 1/2' tall. - 'Genovese'
Larger leaves than traditional basil. 2' tall. - 'Greek Columnar'
- 'Greek Dwarf'
Compact 6" tall, spicy slightly anise flavor - Prospera® Compact DMR
Basil downy mildew resistant - Prospera® DMR
Basily downy mildew resistant - Prospera® Italian Large Leaf DMR
Basil downy mildew resistant - 'Purple Ruffles'
Dark purple ruffled and fringed leaves - 'Queen of Sheba'
Often used as an ornamental, but also edible, compact good for containers - ‘Rutgers Devotion-DMR'
Resistant to basil downy mildew - 'Rutgers Obsession-DMR’
Resistant to basil downy mildew - 'Rutgers Passion'-DMR
Resistant to basil downy mildew - ‘Rutgers Thunderstruck-DMR'
Resistant to basil downy mildew - 'Siam Queen'
Large leaves with purple flowers and stems. Flavor resembles spicy licorice-mint. Winner of the 1997 All American Selection.
- 'Anise'
- 'Anise', 'Cinnamon', 'Genovese', 'Greek Columnar', 'Greek Dwarf', Prospera® Compact DMR, Prospera® DMR, Prospera® Italian Large Leaf DMR, 'Purple Ruffles', 'Queen of Sheba', ‘Rutgers Devotion-DMR', 'Rutgers Obsession-DMR’, 'Rutgers Passion'-DMR, ‘Rutgers Thunderstruck-DMR', 'Siam Queen'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ocimum
- Species:
- basilicum
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Plant tops can be used to make green and yellow dyes.
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Tropical Africa and Asia
- Play Value:
- Fragrance
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Rabbits and deer
- Edibility:
- Leaves and flowers in tea, as flavoring
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 4 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 4 in. - 1 ft. 2 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Edible
- Herb
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Ascending
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 10b, 10a
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Lipped
- Flower Petals:
- Bracts
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The small white flowers are lipped in shape. They are arranged in whorled racemes with bracts at the base. Some ornamental varieties have spikes of showy purple flowers. Blooms in late summer.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Variegated
- White
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are bright green and are attached directly to the base of the stem. Simple leaves and opposite in arrangement at right angles to each other. Ovate in shape with smooth margins and slight bulging between the veins. 1/2"-3" in length. Very fragrant. Ornamental varieties may have purple or variegated leaves.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Stem is thin and hollow and has a branching tendency. The cross-section is square in shape.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Lawn
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
