One of the benefits of gardening for many years is getting to know different types of basil. From fragrant holy basil to dainty little globe basil for pots, I’ve yet to find a dud among cultivated Ocimum species. But which are the very best basils to grow? Much depends on the growing conditions you have to offer, but I think the varieties described below are so distinctive that they qualify as bucket-list basils.
Native to Central Africa and much of Southeast Asia, Ocimum basilicum is the most common species grown for the robust flavor of its leaves. Liquorice-scented Thai basils are not as versatile in the kitchen compared to sweet basils, but they can be great basils for bouquets. Holy basil (O. tenuiflorum), also known as tulsi basil, is a fantastic herb to dry for tea. Exploring basil varieties is the best kind of gardening fun, so let’s dive in!
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The thin leaves of Genovese or sweet basils are perfect for summer tomato salads
Unbeatable Culinary Basils
The best basils for use in pasta, pesto or tomato salads are Genovese or sweet basils. Fast-growing and productive, many strains also can be propagated by rooting stem cuttings, as Ben Vanheems explains in How to Grow a Never-Ending Supply of Basilt. There is no need to go fancy here unless you have had problems with basil diseases such as fusarium wilt, which causes plants to rot off near the soil line, or downy mildew, which can’t be stopped once it finds a host plant. The vigorous Prospera variety is resistant to both diseases.
I like to grow at least one purple basil each summer, and it can be great fun to try new varieties. An improved strain of Red Rubin, Rosie holds its colour well in hot weather and has clean, salad-worthy flavor.
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Dolce Fresca basil is naturally compact and slow to produce flowers. Photo courtesy of All America Selections
Compact Basils for Containers
You can grow any type of basil in a container, but several varieties are simply outstanding when grown in pots. A true phenomenon in basil, Everleaf Emerald Towers basil grows into a bushy upright column that stays in leaf all summer. Long after other basils start to flower, disease-resistant Emerald Towers keeps pumping out tender new leaves with classic Genovese flavor.
Should Emerald Towers not be your thing, award-winning Dolce Fresca grows to only 14 inches (35 cm) tall and wide, so it’s a good fit for pots. Like Emerald Towers, Dolce Fresca is very slow to bloom, so there is no need to constantly pinch out flowers.
Finally, the natural neatness of Spicy Bush and other small-leaved varieties cannot be matched by any other garden plant. Often called Greek basil or bush basil, the dwarf plants grow to only 8 inches (20 cm) tall, with a symmetrical canopy that looks like topiary. A red-leaved variety, Purple Ball, is well worth seeking out.
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Holy basil can be dried to make an aromatic tea
Homegrown Holy Basil
Held sacred by Hindus, holy basil (tulsi basil) has a unique fragrance and flavour that comes through best when used to make tea. Scientists have identified over 60 aromatic compounds in holy basil, which is widely used in Ayurvedic medicine. I just like the way tulsi tea smells and tastes!
Several types of holy basil are popular in India’s tropical regions, but in temperate climates the Kapoor strain is the best choice. Wait until spring is well underway to start the seeds indoors under lights, because the plants grow best in warm soil. Holy basil will rush to flower in warm summer weather, but frequent harvesting of flowers and stems can keep plants productive for several weeks. With encouragement, holy basil will reseed itself in some climates, though the volunteer seedlings are often quite late to appear in the garden.
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Purple basil provides instant contrast when grown with light-coloured flowers
Best Basils for Bouquets
Growing most basils involves frequent pinching to encourage the plants to produce leaves instead of flower spikes, but when growing basil for bouquets, you want the plants to bloom! Purple basils bloom pink, and the flowers of cinnamon basil and most Thai basils are a rosy red. All look great when grown as edible ornamentals, especially when combined with pink or yellow flowers.
The aromatic Cardinal variety is capable of producing huge flower clusters, but it needs a long, warm season for top performance. The smooth green leaves borne on red stems have a peppery flavour, but I happily mixed them with sweet basil when making pesto for the freezer.
If you want basil stems to use as cut flowers, Lisa Mason Ziegler, author of numerous books on growing cut flowers, recommends cinnamon basil. Sometimes called Mexican basil, the fast-growing plants start out green and gain more colour as they mature, eventually featuring long red stems with reddish flowers. You can taste the methyl cinnamate in the leaves, so they are a good match for fruit dishes, baked goods or basil jelly.
Now, to decide which basil to try next…
