(Basil)

For many, this is the perfect culinary herb with a thousand and one flavorful uses. Sweet basil is a bushy annual, or short-lived evergreen perennial, that originates from Eurasia and Africa. It has been broadly cultivated for centuries and boasts a wide array of cultivars of varying sizes, colors, textures and tastes. Anyone who has compared the sweet, aromatic flavor of large-leaved Italian basil to the sharp flavor of purple-leaved basil can tell you they are profoundly different. Some basil cultivars...

For many, this is the perfect culinary herb with a thousand and one flavorful uses. Sweet basil is a bushy annual, or short-lived evergreen perennial, that originates from Eurasia and Africa. It has been broadly cultivated for centuries and boasts a wide array of cultivars of varying sizes, colors, textures and tastes. Anyone who has compared the sweet, aromatic flavor of large-leaved Italian basil to the sharp flavor of purple-leaved basil can tell you they are profoundly different. Some basil cultivars...

(Basil, Pistou Basil)

A compact basil that forms dense, symmetrical hummocks of petite, pungent leaves, 'Pistou' is well suited for both ornamental and culinary plantings. Of French origin, it is one of hundreds of selections of Ocimum basilicum, an annual or short-lived perennial from tropical Asia that has long been cultivated for its aromatic, flavorful leaves.

The fragrant, rich-green, oval leaves of 'Pistou' are densely borne on low, shrubby, mounded plants. The sweetly spicy leaves taste great in salads,...

(Basil, Queenette Basil)

Prized for their sweetly spicy leaves that taste and smell of cloves, Thai basils figure prominently in many Southeast Asian dishes. The cultivar 'Queenette' bears zesty, purple-flushed green leaves on maroon stems. Like all Thai basils, it descends from Ocimum basilicum, an annual or short-lived perennial from tropical Asia that has long been cultivated for its aromatic, flavorful leaves.

The bright-green, purple-tinged, oval leaves of this basil contrast strikingly with its erect,...

For many, this is the perfect culinary herb with a thousand and one flavorful uses. Sweet basil is a bushy annual, or short-lived evergreen perennial, that originates from Eurasia and Africa. It has been broadly cultivated for centuries and boasts a wide array of cultivars of varying sizes, colors, textures and tastes. Anyone who has compared the sweet, aromatic flavor of large-leaved Italian basil to the sharp flavor of purple-leaved basil can tell you they are profoundly different. Some basil cultivars...

(Basil, Dwarf Bush Basil)

The super tidy and cute ‘Spicy Globe’ is a dwarf sweet basil with ornamental and culinary value. It has tiny, green, spicy sweet leaves that taste great in salads or pasta sauce. The small, spherical plants also look great in window boxes, kitchen gardens, containers and borders.

For many, basil is the perfect culinary herb. It is a bushy annual, or short-lived perennial, that originates from Eurasia and Africa. As summer warms up, it produces spikes of two-lipped, white or pale lavender flowers....

(Basil, Summerlong Basil)

Bearing a summer-long bounty of zesty, fragrant leaves on compact, bolt-resistant plants, this Burpee introduction is well suited for both ornamental and culinary plantings. It is one of hundreds of selections of Ocimum basilicum, an annual or short-lived perennial from tropical Asia that has long been cultivated for its aromatic, flavorful leaves.

The fragrant, bright-green, oval leaves of this basil are densely borne on low, shrubby, mounded plants. The robustly flavored leaves taste...

(Basil, Well-Sweep Purple Miniature Basil)

Distinguished by its colorful foliage and its dense compact habit, this introduction from New Jersey herb-grower Cyrus Hyde is well suited for both ornamental and culinary use. It is one of hundreds of selections of Ocimum basilicum, an annual or short-lived perennial from tropical Asia that has long been cultivated for its aromatic, flavorful leaves.

The fragrant, oval leaves of this basil are purple when young, fading to olive-green with age. They are densely borne on low, shrubby,...

(Purple Basil)

Lovely purple leaves cover these bushy herbs throughout the growing season. Purple-leaved basils are grown for both the beauty and flavor of their jewel-toned leaves. Different cultivars come in a variety of purple colors from dark purple to burgundy and bronzy purple. Height and habit also varies from cultivar to cultivar, some are tall and upright, while others are bushy and short. Most have strong, spicy leaves that are best used in cooked sauces and dishes. They also make an attractive addition...

(Dark Opal Basil, Purple Basil)

The purple-leaved basil, ‘Dark Opal,’ was an All-American Selections winner in 1962. Its jewel-toned purple leaves deserve just as much attention as its strong, flavorful leaves, which taste great in salads and make attractive herbed vinegar. In hot weather, ‘Dark Opal’ may loose some of its purple leaf color. Nonetheless, it is a beautiful choice for containers and flower gardens as well as herb and vegetable beds.

For many, basil is the perfect culinary herb. It is a bushy annual, or short-lived...