sweet basil
Ocimum basilicum
Lamiaceae · annual · introduced
Last updated
Data Maturity Structured
This profile synthesizes data from multiple published sources. Expert field review is in progress.
Heat-loving annual that struggles in cool maritime springs but thrives July through September. Raised beds warm faster on clay soils. Downy mildew (Peronospora belbahrii) is a significant threat in this region's humid conditions.
— Claude / Chris Welch
Quick Facts
Height
1-2 ft
Spread
0.5-1 ft
Growth Rate
Fast
Light
Full Sun
Soil
Well Drained
Water
Moderate
Hardiness
Zone Zones 10–11 (perennial); grown as annual everywhere
Bloom Time
July-September
Origin
Tropical Asia, Africa
Diseases (3)
Cultivars (2)
''Genovese''
Classic Italian large-leaf type. The standard culinary basil; large, cupped, intensely aromatic leaves.
''Devotion''
Rutgers downy mildew-resistant release. Genovese-type flavor and appearance with DMR genetics.