Ocimum basilicumSweet Basil

Ocimum basilicum, Sweet Basil, needs no introduction as a kitchen herb, but in planting terms it is a fast soft-stemmed annual that fills a bed in weeks and carries a strong clove scent whenever it is brushed. Purple-leaved and large-leaved forms are both widely grown.

It is used in herb and sensory gardens, edible landscapes and seasonal bedding, and is replanted each season rather than left in place.

Specifications

• Height0.3 to 0.6 metres
• Width0.3 to 0.5 metres
• Native toTropical Asia and Africa; grown worldwide in cultivation
• FoliageSoft, aromatic, ovate bright green leaves, purple in some forms; annual or short-lived in frost-free climates
• Growth rateFast

Conditions

• SoilPrefers fertile, moist, well-drained soils
• LightFull sun
• WaterModerate to high; keep evenly moist
• ClimateThrives in warm tropical and subtropical conditions and is killed by frost

Additional Features

• FlowersSpikes of small white to pale purple flowers in summer
• UsesIdeal for herb and sensory gardens, edible landscapes, seasonal bedding and containers
• SpacingPlant 0.25 to 0.3 metres apart for a closed seasonal mass
• Low MaintenancePinch out flower spikes to prolong leaf production; replant each season
• Pest ResistanceGenerally robust; monitor for aphid and for fungal problems in humid conditions
• Wildlife AttractionFlowering spikes are heavily worked by bees
• Seasonal AppealScent and fresh foliage through the warm months, with replanting each year

Sweet Basil belongs in a sensory or edible planting as a seasonal crop, and it should be scheduled as one rather than as permanent cover.