Basil

(Ocimum gratisimum) Wonderful flavor, the best for pesto! A gigantic and sumptuous basil that is popular in African and Asian cuisines. This amazing plant has incredible flavor, a rich basil taste with oregano flavor. and a small kick of delicious spiciness! It is wonderful in salads, soups, pastas, vinegars, jellies, and killer pestos! We adore this wonderful variety also for its health properties! Popular in traditional medicine, it was clinically evaluated for its antibacterial properties. Our strain of this flavorsome plant comes from Ghana, an epicenter of basil genetics. We thank our grower Solomon Amuzu of Ghana.

• Sprouts in 6-10 Days
• Ideal Temperature: 70-85 Degrees F
• Seed Depth: 1/4"
  
• Plant Spacing: 14"
• Frost Hardy: No
• Ocimum gratisimum
  

Growing Tips: Thrives in heat. May be sown in place in long-summer areas, or started indoors and set out after last-frost date of spring. Remove flower buds promptly to prolong harvest.

(Ocimum basilicum) One of our favorite new arrivals in the Baker Creek trial gardens! This plant is a native herb that originated in Ghana, West Africa, where it’s been used in many dishes and medicinal preparations for hundreds of years. This is one of the most common plants seen in every home of the Ghanaian people because of its numerous uses. This variety from Ghana is named Akoko Mesa because it is used for preparing poultry. The name Akoko Mesa means “chicken dance.”

• 8-12 hours of Sun
• Sprouts in 6-10 Days
• Ideal Temperature: 70-85 Degrees F
• Seed Depth: 1/4"
  
• Plant Spacing: 8-12"
• Frost Hardy: No
• Ocimum basilicum
  

Growing Tips: Thrives in heat. May be sown in place in long-summer areas, or started indoors and set out after last-frost date of spring. Remove flower buds promptly to prolong harvest.

(O. americanum) Vigorous plant with dense spikes of light purple flowers enclosed in showy deep purple bracts, making for an especially fine appearance in pots or in the garden. Heavy fragrance with spicy vanilla overtones that makes a pleasant contribution to both fruit salads and savory dishes. The most fragrant basil.

• 8-12 hours of Sun
• Sprouts in 6-10 Days
• Ideal Temperature: 70-85 Degrees F
• Seed Depth: 1/4"
  
• Plant Spacing: 8-12"
• Frost Hardy: No
• Ocimum americanum
  

Growing Tips: Thrives in heat. May be sown in place in long-summer areas, or started indoors and set out after last-frost date of spring. Remove flower buds promptly to prolong harvest.

Annual. A delicious, fragrant culinary basil that produces huge, rich purple flower heads! These are fantastic in flower arrangements. Try the spicy-sweet leaves in your favorite recipes. They are perfect for salads, soups, and curries, and leaves go well in many Mexican and Asian foods. A magnificent and grand variety for your garden and kitchen. Amazing flavor! Developed in Israel.

• 8-12 hours of Sun
• Sprouts in 6-10 Days
• Ideal Temperature: 70-85 Degrees F
• Seed Depth: 1/4"
  
• Plant Spacing: 8-12"
• Frost Hardy: No
• Ocimum basilicum
  

Growing Tips: Thrives in heat. May be sown in place in long-summer areas, or started indoors and set out after last-frost date of spring. Remove flower buds promptly to prolong harvest.

A flavorful, citrusy variety that is perhaps the most tender and aromatic basil we’ve tried! This fast- growing, heat-tolerant basil provides lemony, orange-flavored foliage all summer long. The leaves are smooth in texture, and even the stem is tender enough for eating raw in salad. A popular Chinese variety perfect for Asian dishes and fusion cooking! This delicious herb is hard to find in America.

• 8-12 hours of Sun
• Sprouts in 6-10 Days
• Ideal Temperature: 70-85 Degrees F
• Seed Depth: 1/4"
  
• Plant Spacing: 8-12"
• Frost Hardy: No
• Ocimum basilicum
  

Growing Tips: Thrives in heat. May be sown in place in long-summer areas, or started indoors and set out after last-frost date of spring. Remove flower buds promptly to prolong harvest.

A cinnamon twist on one of our favorite garden herbs. Cinnamon basil is believed to have originated in Mexico, and indeed there are many recipes and uses for this piquant basil in Mexican cuisine. The light cinnamon and anise flavor adds the perfect touch to fruit salads, desserts, and savory preparations. The leaves also make a soothing cup of tea. Cinnamon basil contains many vitamins and minerals. It also attracts a wide range of pollinators.

• 8-12 hours of Sun
• Sprouts in 6-10 Days
• Ideal Temperature: 70-85 Degrees F
• Seed Depth: 1/4"
  
• Plant Spacing: 8-12"
• Frost Hardy: No
• Ocimum basilicum
  

Growing Tips: Thrives in heat. May be sown in place in long-summer areas, or started indoors and set out after last-frost date of spring. Remove flower buds promptly to prolong harvest.

Annual. Deep color makes this one extra flavorful, rich and sweet. The fragrant deep-violet foliage will accent your floral designs with drama and perfume. Many gardeners choose to dapple the landscape with dark purple foliage, as it accents brightly colored flowers and vegetables beautifully. This variety was bred at the University of Connecticut in the 1950s, when Professor Joseph M. Lent and his colleague John Scarchuck set out to improve the existing purple basil variety, which had inconsistent color issues. A purple-splotched variety from Turkey was selected from countless samples from across the globe. The result was this deeply purple, vigorous variety which they named Dark Opal. This exemplary basil took home a bronze medal in the 1962 All America’s Selection award.

• 8-12 hours of Sun
• Sprouts in 6-10 Days
• Ideal Temperature: 70-85 Degrees F
• Seed Depth: 1/4"
  
• Plant Spacing: 8-12"
• Frost Hardy: No
• Ocimum basilicum
  

Growing Tips: Thrives in heat. May be sown in place in long-summer areas, or started indoors and set out after last-frost date of spring. Remove flower buds promptly to prolong harvest.

Annual. Compact version of the classic Genovese type that is superior for pot culture, having shorter stem-length between leaf nodes. Widely recognized to be longer-lasting when cut, all of which make “Emily” a better subject for market growers and home gardeners.

• 8-12 hours of Sun
• Sprouts in 6-10 Days
• Ideal Temperature: 70-85 Degrees F
• Seed Depth: 1/4"
  
• Plant Spacing: 8-12"
• Frost Hardy: No
• Ocimum basilicum
  

Growing Tips: Thrives in heat. May be sown in place in long-summer areas, or started indoors and set out after last-frost date of spring. Remove flower buds promptly to prolong harvest.

This peppery and piquant heirloom, traditionally grown by the people of the Ewe tribe in Ghana, West Africa, presents a concerto of delightful aromas and has many delicious culinary uses. Evivi Ntor means “very tasty” in the Ewe language and we must agree! The flavor is floral with a hint of pine and citrus, nuanced and bold! This particular variety is among many others in the area that are disappearing. It is traditionally used in soup, stew, sauce, juices, and also to flavor local drinks. We have found this unique and delicious basil to be a stellar choice for culinary experimentation! Solomon Amuzu, of Call to Nature Permaculture in Ghana, received a sample of seeds from an 86-year-old Ewe woman, and he has decided to revive and proliferate this treasured basil before it is lost.

• 6-12 hours of Sun
• Sprouts in 6-10 Days
• Ideal Temperature: 70-85 Degrees F
• Seed Depth: 1/4"
• Plant Spacing: 8-12"
• Frost Hardy: No
  
• Ocimum basilicum
  

Growing Tips: Thrives in heat. May be sown in place in long-summer areas, or started indoors and set out after last-frost date of spring. Remove flower buds promptly to prolong harvest.

68 days. An absolutely legendary heirloom that no Italian chef can cook without. Genovese basil is the essential ingredient in basil pesto, but it’s also phenomenal in sauces, on pizzas, and in any other recipe calling for basil. Genovese basil was first bred in the Northwest coastal port of Genoa, the gateway to the Italian Riviera. Most of the Genovese basil in Italy is grown in the Liguria region. Basil is grown at very high density in greenhouses there, and the village of Pra is noted as growing the very best Genovese basil.

• 8-12 hours of Sun
• Sprouts in 6-10 Days
• Ideal Temperature: 70-85 Degrees F
• Seed Depth: 1/4"
  
• Plant Spacing: 8-12"
• Frost Hardy: No
• Ocimum basilicum
  

Growing Tips: Thrives in heat. May be sown in place in long-summer areas, or started indoors and set out after last-frost date of spring. Remove flower buds promptly to prolong harvest.

Annual. Vibrant and flavorful lemon basil is an herb that will add zip and zest to your cooking. It is a highly regarded culinary ingredient across the globe and one of our favorites for fusion and experimental cuisine. In Laos it is known as pak i tao; its leaves are used in soups, stews, and countless other dishes, and the seeds are soaked and made into a dessert. Lemon basil is essential to many Asian dishes and is highly fragrant.

• 8-12 hours of Sun
• Sprouts in 6-10 Days
• Ideal Temperature: 70-85 Degrees F
• Seed Depth: 1/4"
  
• Plant Spacing: 8-12"
• Frost Hardy: No
• Ocimum americanum
  

Growing Tips: Thrives in heat. May be sown in place in long-summer areas, or started indoors and set out after last-frost date of spring. Remove flower buds promptly to prolong harvest.

Leaves are Jurassic in size but pleasantly mild in flavor, making Lettuce Leaf basil incredibly versatile in the kitchen. This sweet basil is just a bit more subtle than Genovese. It is great for making gallons of pesto, tossing into fragrant salads, and perfect for making delicious “Lettuce Leaf Basil Wraps.” Productive and beautiful. Huge 6” leaves are great in size and nutritious, containing vitamin A and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium!

• Annual
• 8-12 hours of Sun
• Sprouts in 6-10 Days
• Ideal Temperature: 70-85 Degrees F
• Seed Depth: 1/4"
  
• Plant Spacing: 8-12"
• Frost Hardy: No
• Ocimum basilicum
  

Growing Tips: Thrives in heat. May be sown in place in long-summer areas, or started indoors and set out after last-frost date of spring. Remove flower buds promptly to prolong harvest.

A classic Italian Genovese basil with a tidy compact habit. A superb container variety, Mammolo has been bred to have an exceptionally high leaf to stem ratio and a compact growth habit. The short internodes mean that plants are super bushy, free of undesirable leggy stems and a rangy habit. Leaves are large with a classic Italian basil aroma and flavor, without the minty smell and flavor that some experience with Italian basils. This variety is respected by large-scale growers in Italy, who need a uniform, vigorous basil with gold-standard flavor to please the discerning local palate for basil. A market grower’s favorite and a must have for those growing in pots.

• 8-12 hours of Sun
• Sprouts in 6-10 Days
• Ideal Temperature: 70-85 Degrees F
• Seed Depth: 1/4"
  
• Plant Spacing: 8-12"
• Frost Hardy: No
• Ocimum basilicum
  

Growing Tips: Thrives in heat. May be sown in place in long-summer areas, or started indoors and set out after last-frost date of spring. Remove flower buds promptly to prolong harvest.

Annual. Really interesting and flavorful! Known as Reyhan throughout the varied nations of southwestern Asia. Has a distinctive aroma, both lemony and spice-like. This variety is so fragrant and nutritious, with more calcium than any other basil we have tested. Perfect for soups, salads, rice dishes, & flavorful tea.

• 8-12 hours of Sun
• Sprouts in 6-10 Days
• Ideal Temperature: 70-85 Degrees F
• Seed Depth: 1/4"
  
• Plant Spacing: 8-12"
• Frost Hardy: No
• Ocimum basilicum
  

Growing Tips: Thrives in heat. May be sown in place in long-summer areas, or started indoors and set out after last-frost date of spring. Remove flower buds promptly to prolong harvest.

60 days. Beautiful, fragrant, and tasty purple foliage makes this basil both gourmet and ornamental. Plants reach just shy of 1 foot tall, with a tidy, round form and plum purple color. Excellent in raised beds, window boxes, and other creative containers as well as in beds and borders.

• 8-12 hours of Sun
• Sprouts in 6-10 Days
• Ideal Temperature: 70-85 Degrees F
• Seed Depth: 1/4"
  
• Plant Spacing: 6-8"
• Frost Hardy: No
• Ocimum basilicum
  

Growing Tips: Thrives in heat. May be sown in place in long-summer areas, or started indoors and set out after last-frost date of spring. Remove flower buds promptly to prolong harvest.

Very strong, clove-scented basil. This is a must for curry and all Thai cooking. This selection has beautiful flowers. Very tasty. This improved variety produces very large and lovely flower heads.

• 8-12 hours of Sun
• Sprouts in 6-10 Days
• Ideal Temperature: 70-85 Degrees F
• Seed Depth: 1/4"
• Plant Spacing: 8-12"
• Frost Hardy: No
• Ocimum basilicum
  
  

Growing Tips: Thrives in heat. May be sown in place in long-summer areas or started indoors and set out after last-frost date of spring. Remove flower buds promptly to prolong harvest.

(Ocimum tenuiflorum) A bold and intense, authentic type of Thai basil that is difficult to find outside Asia. The delicate, slightly hairy leaves of this distinct variety are highly revered in Thailand for their piquant flavor. Its flavor notes of clove and black pepper make it much less sweet than the Thai Sweet basil, lending robust flavor to a multitude dishes.

• Annual
• 6-12 hours of Sun
• Sprouts in 10-12 Days
• Ideal Temperature: 70-85 Degrees F
• Seed Depth: Surface Sow
  
• Plant Spacing: 6-8"
• Frost Hardy: No
• Ocimum tenuiflorum
  

Growing Tips: Thrives in heat. May be sown in place in long-summer areas, or started indoors and set out after last-frost date of spring. Remove flower buds promptly to prolong harvest.

OUR FAVORITE! Annual. Popular sweet, spicy basil that is essential in Thai cuisine. Very flavorful, with a nice licorice taste. Amazing taste of Thailand! This plant is not only a culinary favorite, but also known for its medicinal value. It is also a source of calcium and vitamins. Don’t make a pot of curry without it!

• 8-12 hours of Sun
• Sprouts in 6-10 Days
• Ideal Temperature: 70-85 Degrees F
• Seed Depth: 1/4"
  
• Plant Spacing: 8-12"
• Frost Hardy: No
• Ocimum basilicum
  

Growing Tips: Thrives in heat. May be sown in place in long-summer areas, or started indoors and set out after last-frost date of spring. Remove flower buds promptly to prolong harvest.