Full of smell and wonderfully redolent , St. Basil the Great , Ocimumspp . , is one of the light herb to grow . Its pungent , peppery taste with a jot of licorice create it popular in a mixed bag of cuisines .

This member of themint , or Lamiaceae familyis an annual herbaceous plant grow for its flavorful leaves . Like most herbaceous plant , the leave are best enjoyed fresh . But the undimmed flavors can also bedriedorfrozenforwinter use .

There are over 160 cultivars to choose from , and all are luscious , fragrant , and many add ornamental interest to the garden .

A close up of two different varieties of Ocimum basilicum, the top of the frame shows a green-leaved type, and at the bottom a cultivar with dark purple foliage.

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Flavors range from bold and spicy to gently sweet – try out growing the sheer single for savory dishful , the sweet ones for adust goodness , desserts , and ice cream .

The legal age are treated as annual , although in warm , tropic region a few can be grown as perennial . This herbaceous plant is prosperous to grow and you canpropagate basilfromseed , by clipping , or purchase nursery beginning .

A vertical close up picture of a basil plant with dark green leaves growing in the garden on a soft focus background. To the center and bottom of the frame is green and white text.

Here are 13 of our favorite cultivar to tryin your herbaceous plant gardenthis season .

13 Favorite Basil Varieties for Your Herb Garden

1. Boxwood

‘ Boxwood ’ features humble leaves that keep a staring , shrub - similar shape even in the heat of summer – just likea box plant . This variety spring up to a mature top of 12 inches , with a 12- to 16 - inch spread head .

‘ Boxwood ’

Wonderful for containers , butt , and knot gardens , the strong flavor is superb in pesto .

A collage of photos showing different types of basil plants.

you’re able to find packet of 100 germ or three live on plantsavailable at Burpee .

2. Cinnamon

‘ Cinnamon ’ is a gratifying - flavour cultivar with a distinctive cinnamon taste that ’s delightful in baked goods , jellies , and vinegars .

‘ Cinnamon ’

Also known as Mexican spiciness basil , this cultivar has narrow-minded leaves , dark colored stems , and pretty purple heyday that add bang-up ocular appeal .

A vertical close up picture of a basil plant with dark green leaves growing in the garden on a soft focus background. To the center and bottom of the frame is green and white text.

Growing to a mature height of 12 - 18 column inch with a similar spread , ‘ Cinnamon ’ makes a lovely addition to your container garden or flower beds .

come up packets of seed in a assortment of sizesavailable at Eden Brothers .

3. Dark Opal

‘ Dark Opal ’ has wonderful deep majestic leaves and pinkie - lilac flowers that give it great cosmetic value . The sapidity is anise - based with a hint of ginger and it can be used in savory or sweet dishes .

bring to market by Ferry - Morse in the 1950s , ‘ Dark Opal ’ was a succeeder of the All - America Selections Award in the flower category in 1962 .

‘ Dark Opal ’

A close up of the mounding shape of Ocimum basilicum ‘Boxwood’ growing in the garden on a soft focus background.

delicious in container , mixed beds , or anywhere you want to appeal pollinators , this motley grows to a mature summit of 14 inches in a compact , shaggy descriptor .

notice seeds in a variety of packet sizesavailable at Eden Brothers .

memorize more about growing ‘ Dark Opal ’ .

A top down close up picture of Ocimum basilicum ‘Cinnamon’ with bright green foliage and delicate purple flowers.

4. Emerald Towers

‘ Emerald Towers ’ is a tall , multi - branched Genovese eccentric with a goodly columnar substance abuse that produce an outstanding harvest . It has a full licorice gustatory modality and a scent of hot cloves .

‘ Emerald Towers ’

A generous herbaceous plant in container or in the ground , give these flora plenty of space to develop into as they can reach a mature height of 24 - 36 inches with a spread of 8 - 12 inches .

A close up of the freshly harvested leaves of Ocimum basilicum ‘Dark Opal’ set on a wooden surface.

you’re able to find 100 come or a bent of three plantsavailable at Burpee .

5. Genovese

Genovese is the traditional heirloom Italian character with a pronounced Pimpinella anisum smell , sweet clove fragrance , and large , lustrous leaves . This cultivar grows to a fledged height of 16 inches tall , with a spread of 12 inches .

Genovese

A must - have for the kitchen garden , it is perfect for pesto , novel salad , and all matter mouth-watering .

A close up of a blue ceramic pot with Ocimum basilicum ‘Emerald Towers.’ An upright, columnar plant with bright green foliage. In the background is a wooden chair and stone wall in soft focus.

cum are available by the packet or in bulkat Eden Brothers .

Or get a jump on the growing season with a readiness of three plantsavailable at Burpee .

Find more info on growing Genoese St. Basil the Great here .

A close up of a white pestle and mortar with freshly harvested Ocimum basilicum ‘Genovese,’ set on a wooden surface, fading to soft focus in the background.

6. Greek

The Greek case , O. basilicumvar.minimumis a compact variety with small leaves , tiny white flowers , and a neat , globular growth habit that makes it attractive in container , edge , or rockery .

O. basilicumvar.minimum

It has a deeply juicy fragrance and hard flavor that ’s best used in salad dressing , sauces , soup , and stews . Perfect for container gardens , this gnome potpourri grows to a mature height of just eight inch , with a similar spread .

A close up of the leaves of Ocimum basilicum ‘Lemon,’ freshly harvested and set on a wooden surface, fading to soft focus in the background.

you’re able to find packets of seeds in a variety show of sizesat True Leaf Market .

Learn more about planting and spring up Greek basil .

7. Italian Large Leaf

This Graeco-Roman cultivar has the largest leaves of all sweet basil plants . With a mellisonant and balmy flavor , this mixed bag is various in the kitchen and makes a scrumptious pesto .

Italian Large Leaf

plant grow to a mature height of 24 - 30 inches , with a 12 - in spread . Plant in containers , in a gay spot in your herbaceous plant garden , or on a windowsill .

A top down close up of Ocimum basilicum ‘Lime’ growing in the garden on a soft focus background.

Find seed in a miscellanea of packet boat sizesat True Leaf Market .

8. Lemon

A fundamental ingredient in Indonesian culinary art , the lemon yellow variety , O. basilicumvar.citriodorum , is a loanblend with a sweet gamboge odour and sweet - tart flavor . Plants grow to a mature height of 20 - 24 column inch , with a 12 - inch spread .

Lemon

It ’s democratic eaten unused in salads and wraps or contain into curries , soups , stews , and stir - fries .

A close up of the large foliage of Ocimum basilicum ‘Mammoth’ with wrinkled foliage on a soft focus background.

9. Lime

Lime works have a easy , flowered - citrusy flavorand aroma – idealistic for adding a touch of zest to beverages , salad dressings , sauce , and desserts .

Lime

A lovely container plant wherever the tangy aroma can be enjoyed , this cultivar get to a mature height of 16 - 24 inches , with a 12 - column inch spreading .

A close up of three terra cotta pots containing Ocimum basilicum ‘Minette’ set on a concrete surface with a variety of other plantings in the background.

Packets of semen in a diversity of size areavailable at Eden Brothers .

10. Mammoth

O. basilicum crispum‘Monstruoso , ’ aka   ‘ Mammoth , ’ is a lettuce leaf cultivar that features huge savoyed leaves with ruffled edges and uniform growth .

‘ gigantic ’

It has a spicy clove fragrance and a sweet pungent flavor interchangeable to Genovese , but stronger . Perfect for function in Italian recipes or for pesto , ‘ Mammoth ’ grows to a ripe height of 16 inches , with a 12- to 16 - inch feast .

A top down close up picture of Ocimum basilicum ‘Siam Queen’ with pale green leaves and a small purple flower, on a soft focus background.

you could find packets of seeds in a assortment of sizesat Eden Brothers .

11. Minette

Minette is a compact , small - depart Greek cultivar , O. basilicumvarminimum , with a mounding habit that ’s adorable as an edging works , in containers , or in knot gardens .

Minette

With a sweet Pimpinella anisum relish and odour of clove , this variety grows to a fledged height of just 10 inch with a like bed covering , and it mould a beautiful spheric shape .

A close up of freshly picked leaves of Ocimum basilicum ‘Sweet,’ set on a wooden surface, on a soft focus background.

you could purchase seedsat Eden Brothers .

12. Siam Queen

O. basilicumvar.thyrsiflora , ‘ Siam Queen ’ isa Thai varietywith a sweet liquorice sapidity that ’s rewarding in the kitchen and as an ornamental .

This heirloom eccentric has lush green leaves and purple stems , and it grow to a mature peak of 10 - 24 inch , with a similar banquet .

‘ Siam Queen ’

‘ Siam Queen ’ was an All - America Selections Winner in the veg category in 1997 .

Use it to flavor curries , soups , and stir - fries but sow enough to allow some plant to bloom – the purple flower heads and sick pinkish flush are gorgeous !

13. Sweet

One of the most popular varieties , sweet basil has a full licorice flavor and spicy clove fragrance that ’s just as gracious when used tonic in salad , sandwich , and wraps or added to pesto , sauces , and spicy dishes .

honeyed

Often anticipate “ vulgar ” basil , plants raise up to 24 inch marvelous and wide-cut . Aromatic and flavorsome , it go fast , so be sure to plant plenty .

you may purchase seeds by the packet or in bulkat Eden Brothers .

Pesto and Beyond

toothsome , fragrant , and delightfully soft to farm , basil lends its unmistakable tang to pesto and much more !

If you are raw to grow herbs , determine out ourguide to starting your own herb garden .

Tolearn more about produce Basil the Great , put these guides on your reading inclination next :

© Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . Product picture via Burpee , Eden Brothers , and dependable Leaf Market . Uncredited picture : Shutterstock . With extra writing and redaction by Clare Groom and Allison Sidhu .

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Lorna Kring