Meet the Sweet Basil

Sweet Basil | Ocimum basilicum

How do you know it’s me?:

• I am an herb, typically grown as an annual.

• My flowers are arranged on stalks. Each flower has an open shape, with a notched petal on top, and long stamens on bottom. My flower stalk may be colored the same (or differently) from my flower.

• My stems can also be tinted purple. They are square in shape.

• I have smooth, opposite, pointed oval leaves with prominent veins. They sometimes have a cupped shape and slightly toothed edges. Some varieties have purple or multicolored leaves.

How big do I grow?: 0.5’ - 3’ height and 0.5’ - 1.5’ spread.

Sun-seeker or shade-lover: Full sun to part shade, but best in full sun.

Where I prefer to put my roots: Moist, well-drained soil.

Hardiness: Annual in zones 9 and lower. Can be perennial in zone 10-11.

Original home: I am native to the tropical regions of Africa and Asia.

Colors: Depending on the variety, my flowers are white, purple, or pink.

When I bloom: Late summer.

Wildlife friends: I attract pollinators.

Flora Fun Facts: Flavor and scent can vary between my varieties. Some might have hints of lemon, where others resemble cinnamon, licorice, or pepper.

More Info: The fragrant and edible leaves of the Sweet Basil are essential components of Italian and other cuisines, but cultivars with showy purple leaves or flowers can also be planted as ornamentals.

• A member of the Lamiaceae (mint) family.

• Pinching to remove the tips of long stems and to remove flower buds will help promote a bushy form.

• Thai and Genovese basil are two popular cultivars, with different flavor profiles.

• Basil has traditionally been used to treat digestive issues, or as an anti-inflammatory.

• Perfect for a container, an herb or vegetable garden, or edge plantings along flower beds.

• Seeds can be sown indoors in early spring and transferred outdoors once the last frost has passed.

• This plant is prone to mildew, but there are mildew-resistant varieties (like ‘Prospera’, and the ‘Rutgers’ series, according to North Carolina State University.)