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Name: sweet basil, basil, Mediterranean basil (Ocimum basilicum).
Plant type: shrub-like fast-growing annual or perennial.
Height: 30–50cm, sometimes larger.
Foliage: broad oval with a slightly pointed tip, often '‘wrinkled' along the venation, glossy pale to bright green, soft. Can be slightly toothed along the margins.
Climate: sub-tropics, warm temperate, warm spots in cool temperate. During winter in the tropics.
Soil: average to good quality garden soil, sandy soil if extra organic matter is added. Must have good drainage – doesn’t survive well in heavy or waterlogged soil.
Position: full sun in cooler regions, some shade in hot areas.
Flowering and fruiting: long white flower spike with small, pretty white to pink flowers along the stem. Appear generally from mid-summer.
Feeding: in quality soil or potting mix additional feeding isn’t essential. Leaf flavour is often more intense if left unfertilised.
Watering: best if it receives reliable moisture during warm periods. Moderately dry tolerant once mature, but wilts quickly, and leaves can scorch.
There are few herbs as versatile as basil. It’s used fresh in stir-fries or pasta sauces, as a tasty garnish, in salads and of course as a vital ingredient pesto! Basil has a long history of use in the kitchen, and is also used medicinally and in cultural and religious ceremonies around the world.
Most people associate basil with Mediterranean cuisine, but it’s thought that the plant actually originates from the warmer areas of Asia. The varieties with the more intense flavours and spiciness tend to be used in Asian cooking, whereas Mediterranean cuisine leans towards the 'sweet' varieties.
Basil is a small, usually dense shrub with a very upright branching habit. It tends to be quite conspicuous in the garden due to its distinctly coloured foliage.
Basil usually flowers from mid-summer. Unlike some herbs, it doesn’t die as soon as it flowers, but foliage will start to thin. Although generally treated as an annual, basil can remain productive for months during flowering, and in the right climate and position can be trimmed back to reshoot. Some varieties and species are considered to be longer-lived perennials.
All types of basil are very easy to grow, and most do very well in pots or window boxes, or even indoors on a sunny windowsill.
Sweet basil is the most well-known and commonly grown basil, but there are a few other very useful and popular varieties.
Distinct liquorice-like aroma with spicy undertones. Leaves narrower and more pointed than sweet basil. Stems often a purplish colour. Flower spikes purple with pink flowers.
Dwarf form. Neat compact shape to around 30cm tall. Smaller leaves and flowers than sweet basil, more spicy and minty.
Droma is more minty, with musky hints. Can be used in cooking but most often used during Eastern religious ceremonies and festivals.
Often called 'clove basil' for its distinct clove aroma. Can be grown successfully for a number of years. Narrow leaves. Flower spikes are purplish with white-pink flowers.
Here are a few tips to help you prepare your soil before you plant basil:
In most regions basil will be grown as a warm-season annual, or occasionally as a perennial. In the tropics, however, it should be grown as a cool-season annual, as it won’t tolerate extreme heat. Basil has no frost hardiness.
Basil is happiest in a warm spot in full sun, however in hot regions it will benefit from some shade. It will grow quite well in part-shade or diffused light, but it tends to stretch and become leggy.
The stems of basil tend to be quite brittle, so are easily broken by wind. The leaves can also be scorched by dry or hot winds, so select a protected position.
Basil can grow very well in almost any free-draining soil, but adding compost or composted manure, especially to sandy soil, will give better growth. This is largely because it will improve the soil’s ability to remain moist, which basil likes. Basil will not tolerate wet soil or heavy soil. In pots, use a quality potting mix or one that's tailored for edibles.
The simple rule is to ensure reliable moisture, especially during warm times.
Basil can be planted for many uses, including:
Basil is a relatively care-free plant to grow. Liquid feed with an organic or seaweed-based fertiliser across the growing season. Ensure that any leaves are thoroughly washed before eating.
To extend leafy growth, pinch out flower shoots as they start to develop. When growing in pots, rotate your pot by 90Ëš once a week to keep your plant nice and evenly bushy.
You’ll find that regular harvesting of basil keeps your plants well pruned. When taking cuttings, try to avoid picking from one side only, otherwise your bush can become lopsided.
Flower spikes can be pruned out as they develop. However, the flowers are edible, and make a nice addition to salads, or sprinkled over pasta.
At the end of the season, bushes of perennial basil can be pruned back hard. In warmer regions even sweet basil can be coaxed into a second season by pruning in autumn.
Basil is prone to very few pests or diseases. It may be attacked by green looper caterpillars, which can easily be removed by hand. White fly may be an occasional problem.
Basil will grow readily from cuttings. Just stand them in a glass of water in a sunny spot and they will develop roots in no time. These new plants will still be running to the same timeframe for flowering as the parent they were taken from, so plants grown this way may flower very soon after planting. This isn’t a problem with perennial forms, but may make for a short productive life with annual varieties.
Seed can be harvested from your basil and saved for next season, or bought in packets. Either sow in the garden into suitably prepared soil, or spread in a seedling tray filled with seed-raising mix and keep warm and moist. If sowing in trays, pick the strongest seedlings and plant out in batches a week apart to extend harvest time.
How to design a herb garden: expand your culinary options with full range of herbs.
Fruiting figs: one of the most succulent treats from the Mediterranean garden.
Rosemary: hardy and easy to grow rosemary is an indispensable herb, and a great-looking garden plant.
Coriander: this herb has a unique aroma and flavour, making it an edible garden essential.
Parsley: one of the most common herbs used in cooking, parsley is delicious and versatile.
Asbestos, lead-based paints and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber are health hazards you need to look out for when renovating older homes. These substances can easily be disturbed when renovating and exposure to them can cause a range of life-threatening diseases and conditions including cancer. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page.
When following our advice in our D.I.Y. videos, make sure you use all equipment, including PPE, safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the equipment is suitable for the task and that PPE fits properly. If you are unsure, hire an expert to do the job or talk to a Bunnings Team Member.
