Basil is a popular herb grown by gardeners and cooks alike, and for a good reason. Plants are easy to grow if you provide enough heat and light. They reward you with a bounty of fragrant, delicious leaves perfect for making pesto, putting on pizza, or adding to your favorite tomato-based recipes.
Why You Should Try Different Types Of Basil
There are thought to be an estimated fifty to one hundred and fifty different species of basil, with almost all of them cultivated as a culinary herb. One of the best parts about the plants is they offer different flavors and aromas. If you haven’t tried other types, you should add one or two new varieties to your garden.
Basil Varieties To Try
1. African Blue Basil (Ocimum kilimandscharicum × basilicum ‘Dark Opal’)
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Mature Height: 36″
Mature Spread: 36″
African blue basil stands out from other types. It is a sterile hybrid cross between camphor and dark opal basil that grows about three feet tall with a spicy fragrance. Plants produce abundant pink flowers with a deep purple base. Since they are sterile and don’t produce seed, the flowers don’t need to be pinched back like other types.
The flavor profile is different from more traditional types, though, as it inherited the camphor flavor, not everyone finds it appealing.
2. Cardinal Basil (Ocimum basilicum ‘Cardinal’)
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Mature Height: 24 to 30″
Mature Spread: 12 to 18″
Cardinal basil is popular as an edible plant and an ornamental because of its striking red spiky blooms. Plants look similar to celosia and have a robust anise-licorice flavor. If you choose to grow it for culinary use, you’ll want to pinch the flower buds off as soon as you notice them. Once cardinal basil blooms, the flavor drops in quality.
3. Christmas Basil (Ocimum basilicum ‘Christmas’)
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Mature Height: 12 to 18″
Mature Spread: 12″
The wonderful Christmas basil is a mix of Thai and Genovese cultivars. Plants produce large, glossy leaves with a unique, fruity aroma. The taste is said to be like wine with a slight hint of pine. Use it in classic basil recipes or teas and drinks. In the summer, soft white and pink flowers sit atop deep burgundy flower stems.
4. Cinnamon Basil (Ocimum basilicum ‘Cinnamon’)
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Mature Height: 24 to 36″
Mature Spread: 12 to 18″
Also called Mexican basil or Mexican spicy basil, this type produces foliage with a strong cinnamon scent. Its leaves are smaller than sweet basil, but they go well in teas, stir-fries, fruit salads, or as a garnish. The plant’s bright purple stems and small pinkish-lavender to mauve flowers are popular in floral arrangements and ornamental gardens.
5. Clove Basil (Ocimum gratissimum)
Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial sun
Mature Height: Up to 8′
Mature Spread: Up to 8′
Clove basil is also commonly called African basil, tree basil, East Indian basil, and Himalayan basil and is a type of holy basil. As its name states, it has a strong clove-like aroma with a hint of cinnamon and thyme. The leaves are used in stews, soups, and tea. Dark green to purple stems sprout large, slightly hairy leaves with serrated edges.
6. Dark Opal Basil (Ocimum basilicum ‘Dark Opal’)
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Mature Height: Up to 20″
Mature Spread: 12″
If you’re looking for a stunning plant to add to your garden, choose dark opal basil. Its exotic dark purple foliage has an intense spicy-sweet flavor, and pretty pink flowers appear mid to late summer. Dark opal basil grows slower than other types. Besides regular culinary uses, leaves can be steeped in oil or vinegar to add color to dishes.
7. Holy Basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum)
Sun Requirements: Full sun to part shade
Mature Height: Up to 24″
Mature Spread: 12 to 24″
Also known as Tulsi, holy basil is revered in the Hindu religion for its spiritual characteristics and medicinal value. It isn’t used in cuisine like sweet basil is, but is commonly used in herbal teas or chai. Often called “the queen of herbs,” holy basil makes a pretty addition to your garden with its purple and green leaves.
8. Genovese Basil (Ocimum basilicum ‘Genovese’)
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Mature Height: 24 to 36″
Mature Spread: 24″
Genovese basil, or sweet basil, is a staple in Italian cooking and the essential ingredient in pesto recipes. Its characteristic feature is flatter, pointier leaves than other types, and it’s known for its sweet yet spicy taste. This type is a must-have for gardeners and grows well in containers and the ground.
9. Greek Dwarf Basil (Ocimum basilicum var. minimum)
Sun Requirements: Full sun to part shade
Mature Height: 8 to 10″
Mature Spread: 6 to 8″
If you’re short on space, greek basil is an excellent option as plants don’t get taller than ten inches. This small bushy variety has pointed leaves that are a favorite in tomato dishes and Italian recipes. It grows well in containers and can even be used as an ornamental plant, similar to bonsai trees.
10. Green Ruffles (Ocimum basilicum ‘Green Ruffles’)
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Mature Height: Up to 24″
Mature Spread: Up to 24″
The ruffled, fringed leaves on green ruffles basil make it a unique, attractive plant. Grow it in containers or as a border plant, using the mild-flavored leaves in pasta dishes and salads. Its complex flavor has hints of anise, cinnamon, and citrus. In the summer, plants bear spikes of large, pinkish-purple flowers that are highly attractive to pollinators like bees and butterflies.
11. Italian Large Leaf Basil (Ocimum basilicum ‘Italian Large Leaf’)
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Mature Height: 18 to 24″
Mature Spread: 12 to 15″
Sporting leaves that can be the size of your palm, Italian large leaf basil tastes and smells a touch sweeter than other varieties. This type is slow to bolt, putting out small bunches of pink flowers in early to late summer. If you prefer a touch of sweetness in your recipes, Italian large leaf basil doesn’t disappoint.
12. Lemon Basil (Ocimum basilicum var. citriodorum)
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Mature Height: Up to 24″
Mature Spread: Up to 20″
Lemon basil isn’t as striking as other varieties, so it isn’t commonly grown as an ornamental plant. Silver-tinged leaves are small to medium in size with a unique, tangy taste that is a mixture of bright lemon flavor and anise. To maintain its bright flavor, it’s best to use it as a finishing herb and add it fresh to recipes.
13. Lettuce Leaf Basil (Ocimum basilicum ‘Crispum’)
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Mature Height: 18 to 24″
Mature Spread: Up to 20″
Lettuce leaf basil is another variety with large leaves, which is often used for lettuce wraps and salads. The flavor of the three to six-inch bright-green, crinkled foliage is mild and less aromatic than Genovese, making it incredibly versatile in the kitchen. Plants produce a prolific amount of leaves and are slow to bolt.
14. Lime Basil (Ocimum africanum ‘Lime’)
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Mature Height: 16 to 24″
Mature Spread: 8 to 10″
Like lemon basil, lime basil also has a bright citrus flavor, and the two make a great pair when used together. It isn’t as common as lemon basil but is often used in Thai cuisine and other Southeast Asian recipes. It’s excellent in sauces, dressings, and desserts and is delicious when added to iced tea.
15. Purple Basil (Ocimum basilicum var. purpurascens)
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Mature Height: 18 to 24″
Mature Spread: 10 to 12″
Don’t confuse purple basil with dark opal. They both have stunning deep purple foliage, looking similar to each other, but purple basil has ruffled foliage. It is one of the best types for garnishes since it adds spectacular color to the plate. Leaves have a slightly spicy, clove-like flavor that is somewhat more intense than other varieties.
16. Spicy Saber (Ocimum basilicum ‘Spicy Saber’)
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Mature Height: Up to 14″
Mature Spread: 10 to 12″
Perfect for Asian dishes, spicy saber basil adds a spicy note with its saber-like, serrated leaves. The bright green plants remain bushy and more productive later into the season than other types.
17. Thai Basil (Ocimum basilicum var. thyrsiflora)
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Mature Height: 12 to 18″
Mature Spread: 10 to 12″
Also known as sweet Thai, this type is popular in Asian cuisines with its intense flavor and touch of licorice. Plants are also grown as ornamentals with their show purplish stems and purple-veined leaves that are smaller than sweet basil. It’s best when used fresh as preserving it causes the flavor to fade quickly.
