Bush Basil
Ocimum minimum
Family: Lamiaceae or Labiatae
What it is like
Ocimum minimum is a ANNUAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10 and is frost tender. It is in flower from August to September, and the seeds ripen in September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.
Height (m): 0.3
Where it is found
Long cultivated, its original habitat is obscure.
Tropical Asia?
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 4
Leaves and flowers - raw or cooked. Used as a flavouring or as a spinach, they are used especially with tomato dishes, pasta sauces, beans, peppers and aubergines. The leaves are normally used fresh but can also be dried for winter use. A very pleasant addition to salads, the leaves have a delightful scent of cloves. A refreshing tea is made from the leaves. The seed can be eaten on its own or added to bread dough as a flavouring. When soaked in water it becomes mucilaginous and can be made into a refreshing beverage called 'sherbet tokhum' in the Mediterranean. An essential oil obtained from the plant is used as a food flavouring in mustards, sauces, vinegars etc
Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.
Condiment: the various plants that are used as flavourings, either as herbs, spices or condiments.
Drink: not including plant saps, tea or coffee substitutes.
Tea: the various herb teas that can be used in place of tea, plus the genuine article.
Medicine
Rating: 3
Bush basil has a milder action than sweet basil and is used mainly in the treatment of flatulence and griping pain in the digestive system. The leaves and flowering tops are antispasmodic, aromatic, carminative, digestive, galactogogue, stomachic and tonic. They are taken internally in the treatment of feverish illnesses (especially colds and influenza), poor digestion, nausea, abdominal cramps, gastro-enteritis, migraine, insomnia, depression and exhaustion. Externally, they are used to treat acne, loss of smell, insect stings, snake bites and skin infections. The leaves can be harvested throughout the growing season and are used fresh or dried. The seed is said to remove film and opacity from the eyes. Extracts from the plant are bactericidal and are also effective against internal parasites. The seeds are said to be a cure for warts. The essential oil is used in aromatherapy. Its keyword is 'Clearing'.
Antispasmodic: Relaxes muscular spasms and cramps, calming nervous irritation.
Aromatic: Having an agreeable odour and stimulant qualities.
Carminative: Reduces flatulence and expels gas from the intestines.
Galactogogue: Promotes the flow of milk in a nursing mother.
Ophthalmic: Treats eye complaints.
Stomachic: Aids and improves the action of the stomach.
Warts: Used in the treatment of warts, corns etc.
Other
Rating: 2
An essential oil obtained from the whole plant is used as a food flavouring and in perfumery, dental applications etc. An average yield of 1.5% essential oil is obtained from the flowering tops. When applied to the skin it makes a good mosquito repellent. The growing or dried plant is an effective insect repellent. It is a good plant to grow in the home, where it repels flies, or in the greenhouse where it can keep all manner of insect pests away from nearby plants. It has been used in the past as a strewing herb.
Essential: Essential oils that are used in perfumery, medicines, paint solvents, insect repellents etc.
Repellent: Plants that are said to deter but not necessarily kill various mammals, birds, insects etc.
Scented Plants: Plants noted for their scent
How it is grown
Prefers a rich light well-drained to dry soil. Requires a sunny sheltered position if grown outdoors. Tolerates a pH in the range 5 - 8. Bush basil is commonly grown for its edible leaves in warm temperate and tropical climates. A perennial plant in the tropics, it is frost tender and is grown as a half-hardy annual in temperate zones. It is a very good plant to grow in the house or greenhouse, its aromatic foliage helps reduce problems caused by insect pests. It requires a good summer in Britain if it is to do well outdoors. This species is considered by some botanists to be no more than a form of O. basilicum. Bush basil is a good companion plant for tomatoes but it grows badly with rue and sage. When grown near raspberries it can retard their fruiting.
Propagating it: Seed - sow mid to late spring in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. Germination is usually free and quick, prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. If growing basil outdoors, plant out after the last expected frosts.
Best place to grow: Cultivated Beds;
Habit: Annual
Hardiness: 9-11
Growth:
Soil: Light (sandy), medium
Shade: No shade
Moisture: Moist