Holy Basil Ocimum tenuiflorum
Previously known as:
- Ocimum sanctum
- Phonetic Spelling
- OH-see-mum te-new-ih-FLOR-um
- Description
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Holy basil is an aromatic annual or short-lived pernnial or subshrub in the Lamiaceae (mint) family. It is native to tropical and subtropical regions of Southern Asia. The genus name comes from the Greek word okimon which means aromatic herb.
While holy basil is a close relative of culinary basil, its leaves tend to have a purple cast, its flowers are not as large, and it is shorter-lived. This erect multistemmed subshrub grows rapidly to a height of 3 feet and easily propagates itself by seed.
It prefers full sun in moist, well drained soil. While it tolerates a wide variety of soil types and pH conditions it does poorly in water logged soils.
Plant it in a sensory or herb garden to enjoy its spicy fragrance but place it in a confined area or container to manage its spread.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Japanese beetles can skeletonize and defoliate leaves. Remove them by hand. It can be considered an aggressive weed in regions outside its native range.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ocimum
- Species:
- tenuiflorum
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- A plant used in the Hindu religion and Ayurvedic medicine to cleanse the body, and for stomach and skin issues.
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeast Asia
- Edibility:
- A culinary herb especially in Asia used in the same ways as sweet basil though it is commonly cooked or used in teas rather than used raw. Fragrant leaves have a spicy bite that is a mix of clove, mint, and basil flavor.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Edible
- Herb
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Purple-green to brown smooth to slightly pitted elliptical nutlets 0.8-1.2 mm long with numerous seeds inside.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Raceme
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- Colored Sepals
- fused petals
- Flower Description:
- White, pale pink or lavender tiny tubular flowers with green or purple sepals in terminal panicles or racemes that are 4-12 cm long.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Pungently fragrant pubescent leaves are simple, elliptic to oblong with serrate to entire margins. Leaves are 1.5 to 3 inches long and .5 inches wide. Hairs are on both sides but especially on veins on the underside.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Highly pubescent square stems in purple or green.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Garden for the Blind
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Salt
- Problems:
- Weedy
