Holy Basil
Ocimum tenuiflorum
Also listed as Ocimum sanctum, Geniosporum tenuiflorum
Also known as Tulsi, Sacred Basil
Climate Match for your location
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Holy basil is an aromatic herbaceous plant with small purple or pink flowers and narrow leaves that are sacred in Hindu tradition. It is widely used in Ayurvedic medicine and cooking, valued for its adaptogenic and antimicrobial properties.
Why grow it
Holy basil differs from common sweet basil in its more compact growth habit, narrower leaves, and notably peppery flavor with slight minty notes. It tolerates heat and drought better than most culinary basil varieties, making it a reliable choice for warm climates or drier garden sites. As a perennial or long-lived annual depending on climate, it can provide multiple harvests across a season with less frequent replanting.
Watch out for
This species prefers consistent warmth and will decline rapidly if exposed to temperatures below 50°F, requiring earlier-season protection in cooler regions. Flowering occurs readily in response to day length, which can cause leaves to become more bitter; regular pinching back extends the productive vegetative phase. The plant's tendency to self-seed prolifically may require deadheading if you wish to prevent volunteer seedlings in subsequent seasons.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Lamiaceae
Native Range
India and Southeast Asia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
Holy basil is an aromatic herbaceous plant with small purple or pink flowers and narrow leaves that are sacred in Hindu tradition. It is widely used in Ayurvedic medicine and cooking, valued for its adaptogenic and antimicrobial properties.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Holy Basil grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Holy basil differs from common sweet basil in its more compact growth habit, narrower leaves, and notably peppery flavor with slight minty notes. It tolerates heat and drought better than most culinary basil varieties, making it a reliable choice for warm climates or drier garden sites. As a perennial or long-lived annual depending on climate, it can provide multiple harvests across a season with less frequent replanting.
Watch out for
This species prefers consistent warmth and will decline rapidly if exposed to temperatures below 50°F, requiring earlier-season protection in cooler regions. Flowering occurs readily in response to day length, which can cause leaves to become more bitter; regular pinching back extends the productive vegetative phase. The plant's tendency to self-seed prolifically may require deadheading if you wish to prevent volunteer seedlings in subsequent seasons.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Lamiaceae
Native Range
India and Southeast Asia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
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