Herbs
Selecting Basils for Your Herb Garden
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Feb 16, 2006 - 1:15:00 PM

There is huge variety of basils out there to grow in your kitchen garden and for you to use for cooking or ornamental purposes. There are actually around 40 kinds of basil available! Here, we’ll talk about some common and not so common types of basils that you can try this gardening season. If you’re serious about cooking or gardening, take the time to explore the wonderful world of basil.

While most people grow basil for cooking, it can also be very attractive as an ornamental. Basils typically have white or lavender flowers and there are even some with white flowers with red accents. Their foliage can vary considerably. You’ll find basils with dark purple leaves and others with grayish-green leaves. Some of the most unusual basils have purple leaves with a bit of yellow mixed in. Their leaves can also be long, short, large, small, smooth, shiny, dull, or wrinkled.

An excellent ornamental with grey-green leaves and a beautiful light purple flower is “Holy Basil,” (Ocimum sanctum.) It also will provide your garden with a delightful sweet scent. Unfortunately, this plant is not really for cooking. Enjoy it for its scent and color only. For a touch of unusual color and texture, “Purple Ruffles” or “Green Ruffles” have long shiny, crinkly leaves. The “Purple Ruffles” variety has a beautiful maroon color with a lavender flower. “Green Ruffles” has a white flower.

“Dark Opal” Basil is another great choice as an ornamental. Its leaves are dark purple and shiny and it has a lovely lavender flower. This basil looks striking placed next to yellow flowers. It is also wonderful as a garnish or in vinegar-based salad dressings.

Of course, what matters most to the gardener/chef is flavor and aroma. The most common basil (the one found in your local grocery store) is “Sweet Basil” (Ocimum basilicum.) This is the basil you use for making pesto, tomato sauces, and other Italian dishes. It has a deep green leaf and a white flower. It also has a pleasant and subtle scent. As far as flavor, you can’t go wrong with this basil.

For those looking for something even a little sweeter, try the “Thyrsiflora” variety of basil. It has a strong fragrance and very attractive white and lavender flowers. This basil is commonly used in the Far East including in Thai food. “Crispum,” or Lettuce-leaf Basil, has a big fat leaf that works great in salads. It is slightly wrinkled and has a white flower. Mixed with a variety of greens, you’ll create a very elegant and unusual salad for special occasions.

“Camphor Basil” (Ocimum kilimandscharicum) is an interesting plant that produces white flowers with red anthers and is used for medicinal and ornamental purposes. Due to its strong camphor scent, it is not really used for cooking, but a tea made with Camphor Basil is said to cure stomach problems and colds.

Ask around at your local nursery for basil plants with unusual flavors such as lemon and cinnamon. There is supposedly even a delicious “chocolate basil” available. These can sometimes be hard to find, but they are also available over the internet.

As far as growing your basil, it is a very easy herb to grow and care for. In most places in the U.S., basil is an annual herb that you can plant in your garden or in containers from seed or from starter plants. Make sure you plant your basil outside when there is no risk of frost. Place it in full sun. If you keep basil indoors in a container, it is best to place it near a window that gets plenty of sun. Keep the soil moist with a pH of around 6.0. Basil will germinate from seed in usually two weeks or less. A good spacing is around 12 to 16 inches between plants and 24 to 36 inches between the rows. For more tips on growing herbs, check out this site: Herb Gardening Tips.



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