Sweet basil
Ocimum basilicum

Family: Lamiaceae

What it is like

An erect branched woody shrub. The branches are without hairs and smooth. The leaves are without hair and oblong with a more narrow tip and blunt base. The base of the stems is tinged red. The leaf stalk is 1.5 cm long. The leaf blade is 2.5-5 cm long by 1-2.5 cm wide. The flowers are somewhat purplish with very short stalks. The small nuts are oval and slightly flattened. They are smooth. Plants vary a lot and several varieties have been selected. They can have licorice, cinnamon or lemon flavours and vary in size.

There are between 100 and 150 Ocimum species. It has medicinal benefits including being antimicrobial. It possibly has anti-cancer properties.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. Found at low and medium altitudes throughout the Islands of the Philippines. It suits both the lowlands and the highlands in the tropics. It cannot stand frost. It suits warm and hot climates. It needs some shade in tropical areas. It needs protection from wind. It needs rich moist well drained soil. Soil should be at 25°-30°C for seed to germinate. It grows in savannah woodland. It can grow in arid places. In Hobart Botanical gardens. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Andes, Andorra, Angola, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Balkans, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Caucasus, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America, Central Asia, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo DR, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial-Guinea, Ethiopia, Europe, Fiji, FSM, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, Honduras, Hungary, India (country/location of origin), Indochina, Indonesia, Iran (country/location of origin), Iraq, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Laos, Liberia, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Marquesas, Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Norway, Pacific, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Pacific, Peru, Pohnpei, Poland, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Romania, Rotuma, Sahel, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Scandinavia, SE Asia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Sri Lanka, St Lucia, Sudan, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tasmania, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Turkey, Türkiye, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, USA, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Wallis & Futuna, West Africa, West Indies, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The seeds are soaked in water and eaten. They can be eaten alone or used to flavour bread and other foods. The leaves are used raw or boiled to flavour foods. They are used to flavour tomato sauce, vinegar, soups, salads, omelettes and pesto sauce. It yields an oil used in flavouring. It flavours sauces, pickles, meats and confectionary. The flowers are eaten fresh.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. It is sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Leaves, seeds, flowers, herb, spice, vegetable

How it is grown

It is grown from seed. Seed should be sown 2-3 mm deep and covered with a light sand or soil. Seed germinate within 3-5 days. Seedlings are thinned out to 20 cm apart. Seedlings can be transplanted. If top shoots are picked off, a more bushy plant is produced and flowering is delayed.

Its other names

Local names

Aapar, Akohoun, Albahaca, Alfavaca, Baabareephool, Babariphool, Babbari, Babui tulsi, Baburi, Bahanda, Bai horapa, Bajiru, Balanoi, Basilico, Basilikum, Bhabri, Bhutulasi, Chi nieng vong, Dag kekigi, Damaro, Daye doye, Dhala tulasi, Dizulu, Feslegen, Funom, Furrunj-mushk, Gong guo, Gulal tulsi, Horapha, Hung que, Jun gai, Kali tulsi, Kama kasturi, Kapur kanti, Karpura tulasi, Kemangi, Koupanouwokou, Luo le, Manglak luk, Manjericao, Marua, Marva, Mayangba, Mili, Munjariki, Naazposh, Nasabo, Navadna bazilika, Nhambairam-queo, Nhambeira, Niazbo, Niyazbo, Panr, Pimpinela, Pin-sein, Pucre, Rau que, Rehani, Reyhan, Rudrajada, Sabza, Sajjagida, Selaseh puteh, Selasi, Selasih, Sisse-djambo, Solasih, Sucora, Surasa, Te marou, Thai basil, Tilshi, Tirnirupachai, Vaipar, Varvara, Vepudupachha, Yabani kekik, Yanchiki panka, Yi ge sa lan, Yungne, Ziyar-aphyu

Synonyms

Ocimum album L.; Ocimum americanum Jascq.; Ocimum anisatum Benth.; Ocimum barrelieri Roth.; Ocimum bullatum Lam.; Ocimum caryophyllatum Roxb.; Ocimum chevalieri Briq.; Ocimum ciliare B. Heyne ex Hook. f.; Ocimum ciliatum Hornem.; Ocimum citriodorum Blanco; Ocimum cochleatum Desf.; Ocimum dentatum Moench.; Ocimum dichotomum Hochst. ex Benth.; Ocimum graveolens R.Br.; Ocimum hispidum Lamk.; Ocimum integerrimum Willd.; Ocimum laxum Vah. ex Benth.; Ocimum majus Garseult; Ocimum medium Mill.; Ocimum menthaefolium Benth.; Ocimum minus Garsault; Ocimum nigrum Thouars ex Benth.; Ocimum odorum Salisb.; Ocimum petitianum Rich.; Ocimum pilosum Willd.; Ocimum scabrum Wight ex Hook. f.; Ocimum thyrsiflorum L.; Ocimum urticifolium Benth.; Plectranthus barrelieri Spreng.;