| Botanical name | Ocimum basilicum |
|---|---|
| Plant Care |  Full Sun Full Sun – Prefers 6 or more hours of sun per day.  Half Sun Half Sun – Prefers 3 To 6 Hours of Sunlight a Day.  Frost Sensitive Frost Sensitive – Will Get Damaged and Possibly Killed During Periods of Frost.  Moderate Watering Moderate Watering – Requires Regular Watering.  Pruning Required Pruning Required – Needs to be Pruned.  Non Indigenous Non Indigenous – Exotic to South Africa. |
| Size | |
| Categories | |
| Flowers | Ocimum basilicum bears white flowers. |
| Common name(s) | Basil (sweet) |
| Origin | |
| Foliage | A bushy, summer-growing annual with aromatic, bright-green, glossy foliage. |
| Planting instructions | Sow seed in spring into trays, once they reach the four-leaf stage they can easily be transplanted directly 500mm apart. Add compost on top and water regularly. |
| Maintenance | Pinch out the flowers and water regularly to encourage foliage growth. |
| Uses | Fresh leaves are used to make pesto and are excellent for adding flavour to salads, pizzas and Italian dishes, especially tomato-based ones. |
| Wildlife attractions | Butterflies and bees love it. |
| Interesting planting ideas | Basil grows well in containers. |
| Interesting info | Basil self sows freely. |
| Propagation | Propagate from seed sown in spring. |
| Harvest | Pick the leaves as they are required. |
| When to sow | |
| Seed sowing instructions | Sow seed in spring. |
Ocimum basilicum (Basil (sweet))
- Botanical name: Ocimum basilicum
- Common name(s): Basil (sweet)
- Categories: Herbs
Plant description:
A bushy, summer-growing annual with aromatic, bright-green, glossy foliage and white flowers. Fresh leaves are used to make pesto and are excellent for adding flavour to salads, pizzas and Italian dishes, especially tomato-based ones.
Family: Lamiaceae
Synonym: Ocimum basilicum var. crispum
Botanical Pronunciation: OH-sih-mum buh-SIL-ih-kum
Ocimum basilicum requirements and features
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Moderate Maintenance
Requires moderate maintenance.
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Ocimum basilicum bears white flowers.
A bushy, summer-growing annual with aromatic, bright-green, glossy foliage.
