About
This is a tropical shrub or small tree cultivated mainly for therapeutic products, but with all the usual culinary uses of basil. It Reaches around 2m tall with green leaves which are furry when young, less so as they mature. They may have purple stems, veins and flowers, or if stems and veins are pale, flowers are white. These flowers spikes are also furry.
About the genus
Ocimum can be aromatic annuals, evergreen perennials or shrubs with opposite, linear to broadly-ovate leaves and small tubular white or pinkish flowers in whorls forming a spike
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeClay, Loam, Sand, Chalk
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectSouth-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH1B
Plant details
Plant typeShrubs, Herbs - Culinary
HabitBushy
FoliageEvergreen
Height1.5-2.5 metres
Spread1-1.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesMixed borders, hedging, foundation planting.
Care notes
CultivationGrow under glass in any well-drained soil
PruningNo pruning required
PropagationPropagate from seed or softwood cuttings
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite and glasshouse whitefly
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to grey moulds