About African Blue

Showy purple flowers on vigorous, bushy plants with purple-tinged leaves.

From Charissa, a Minnesota gardener: It's my favorite plant, LOVES the weather here, grows like crazy to the point they are more like shrubs. And the bees race me for flowers, if I don't dead head them quickly. It's so beautiful, loves hot summers/sun; fairs much better than other basil when not watered; grows like crazy; and works just like any other basil in pesto. Plant tip: It's good to vary the location of your basil each year. Basil is susceptible to fungal diseases that accumulate in soil over time.

About Basil

Great for tea, pesto, salads, and dressings. Remove flowers for best-tasting leaves, or keep them to feed the bees and butterflies. These tender perennials are native to sunny, warm Mediterranean climates and will not withstand frost. Water regularly and provide good drainage. Don’t plant outdoors until late May. It is a good idea to vary where you plant your basil each year. Basil is suscep­tible to fungal ­diseases that ­accumulate in soil over time. Rotate your crops!

Pot Size & Price
3.5-in. pot
$3.00
Height
36"
Sunlight Exposure
Full Sun
Catalog
H012
Plant Traits
Bees
Butterflies
Cold Sensitive
Culinary
Edible Flowers
Attractive Foliage
Medicinal
Stock Notes
Restocks On Saturday

Other varieties of Basil

Basil 'Cardinal', green leaves and red bracts like dark red flower clusters
Photo from Park Seed

Cardinal

Catalog
H013
Basil 'Cinnamon', dark purple flowers, green leaves
Photo from Glacial Ridge Growers

Cinnamon

Catalog
H015
Lemon Basil
Photo from Green Earth Growers

Lemon

Catalog
H017
Basil 'Minette', compact green mound of basil leaves
Photo from Park Seed

Minette

Catalog
H019
Mrihani basil, green leaves
Photo from Strictly Medicinal Seeds

Mrihani

Catalog
H014
Spicy Globe Basil, circular mound of small green leaves
Photo from Glacial Ridge Growers

Spicy Globe

Catalog
H021
Basil Aroma, green elongated basil leaves
Photo from High Mowing Organic Seeds

Sweet Genovese, Aroma

Catalog
H004
Basil Prospera Compact, green domed leaves
Photo from High Mowing Seeds

Sweet Genovese, Prospera Compact DMR

Catalog
H007
Basil Thai Sweet, green leaves with lavender flowers, purple stems
Photo from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds

Thai Sweet

Catalog
H008