African Basil

[Hermitian]

Below is a photo of an African Basil (Ocimum gratissimum) plant in a 17" pot. This plant is often sold in the western U.S. as African Blue Basil, but I will caution readers that the virus-induced variegated version has dissimilar properties.

The plant is perennial in USDA zone 10 and zone 9b areas with mild winters (i.e., only a few minor trips below freezing for a few hours). In Europe and in the eastern U.S. the plant is sometimes sold as clove basil, an appropriate name because the leaves are very pungent compared to the mild Italian Basil -- in my estimation about 1/10th the volume of fresh African Basil are equivalent to 1 volume of Italian Basil. For dishes that demand a strong basil flavor it is a must. Commercially it is the source of Basil Oil.

Another feature of this plant is that it flowers incessantly. This is only interrupted by winter temperatures in zones 9b and 10a, in which the plant might defoliate. Otherwise it is in constant bloom and bees are present from pre-dawn through twilight. If you are growing fruit trees in zone 9b+, then it is one of several ways to insure that bees are always coming to your orchard.