Name: Ocimum kilimandscharicum x basilicum pupureum AKA (thankfully) African Blue Basil
Type of Plant: A dark foliaged basil that is both ornamental and culinary, with clove-like overtones in the taste. Because it doesn’t go to seed you don’t have to pinch off the flowers, although doing so early on will make the plant bushier.
Why I Love This: I love this basil for so many reasons. Last year when our Italian basil got downy mildew this plant just kept on producing so we could have leaves for our fresh tomatoes. It’s also a plant that attracts bees by the hundreds, so if you need to bring more pollinators to your vegetable garden this is the plant for you! And finally, it’s beautiful…reason enough to plant this herb.
A Word to the Wise: Grow all basils in at least five hours of dead-on sun including the noon hour.
The flowers and foliage are so lovely that it’s reason enough to grow the plant.
This year in my fragrance garden I planted African Blue Basil with the ‘Golden Delicious’ variety of pineapple sage: fantastic combo!
