American Basil
- Common Name: American Basil
- Scientific Name: Ocimum americanum
- Family Name: Lamiaceae
- Origin: South Asia
- Height: 1 to 2 ft
- Width: 1 to 2 ft
- Growth: Fast
- Zone: USDA Zones 9 through 11
- Light needs: Full sun
- Salt tolerance: Low
- Soil/pH/Texture: Prefers a rich, well-drained soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
- Moisture: Moderate water needs, soil should be kept moist.
- Drought tolerance: Moderate
- Pests/Diseases: Beetles, slugs, and snails may occasionally eat the leaves.
- Growing conditions: This plant should be grown in a warm, sunny area. The soil around it should be mulched to ensure adequate moisture retention. It should be trimmed above the nodes regularly to encourage growth. It is suitable for both in-ground and container planting. It is frost-sensitive and should be brought indoors if the outside temperature dips below freezing. If it is being used as a culinary plant, the flower stalks should be cut back to preserve leaf flavors.
- Characteristics: This plant has a bushy, erect growth habit. The leaves are ovate, slightly serrated along the margins, and fragrant. The leaves grow in pairs along the stem, with new leaves emerging from the tips of stems. The flowers, which are small and purplish white, grow in clusters on stalks at the very ends of stems. The fruit is a small, inconspicuous brown capsule which contains small black seeds.
- Propagation: Easily propagated by cuttings or by seeds. Cuttings can be placed in water and will grow roots within a week or so, at which point they can be planted.
- Wildlife: The flowers attract bees and other pollinators.
- Facts: Despite what the name may imply, American basil is not native to the Americas. The leaves are used around the world as a culinary ingredient.
- Designer considerations: It is a must have for herb gardens and looks beautiful in containers or in the ground. Plant it near walkways or benches, or other areas where people go to add a sweet fragrance. Visually, it looks good as a border plant, especially when paired with, or surrounding, taller plants.
Location
Butterfly Garden
American Basil
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