Basil, African Blue | provenceartantiques

Name

Botanical Name

Family

Native to

Water

Sun

Soil

Height

Width

Space

African Blue Basil

Ocimum kilimandscharicum x basilicum 'Dark Opal'

Lamiaceae

The parentage of this particular variety is a hybrid between an East African basil from the forests of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, and a garden variety type called "Dark Opal"

When the top inch of soil is dry

Full sun - Part Shade (in hot weather/ afternoon)

Medium rich; well drained

12-24"

12-18"

Price

4" Pots: $2.20

6" Pots: $3.50

Clay Pots and Planters:

Prices Vary

Description

Medium-green leaves with red veins on showy purple stems; the purple to pink blossoms on long, spiky stems are very attractive to pollinators.

Keeping it Going

Pinch plants back to create a more compact appearance
Don't cut into woody part of stem; the plant will not regenerate from old growth
Fertilize 1-2 x per growing season with an all-purpose fertilizer.

Won't Tolerate

Temperatures below 45 degrees F
Water logged soil
Cutting into the woody part of stem

History & Points of Interest

Basil is originally from India
Historically, there have been many traditions and superstitions surrounding basil. Those native to India held basil as a sacred herb, yet the Romans and Greeks believed it to be the courier of hardship. In Crete, it represented unrequited love, but in European cultures, it represented the acceptance of love.
Grow close to tomatoes; it repels insects that feed on those plants
Attracts bees and butterflies