Full of flavor and wonderfully aromatic, basil, Ocimum spp., is one of the easiest herbs to grow. Its pungent, peppery taste with a hint of licorice makes it popular in a variety of cuisines.
This member of the mint, or Lamiaceae family is an annual herb grown for its flavorful leaves. Like most herbs, the leaves are best enjoyed fresh. But the bright flavors can also be dried or frozen for winter use.
There are over 160 cultivars to choose from, and all are delicious, fragrant, and many add ornamental interest to the garden.
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Flavors range from bold and spicy to mildly sweet – try growing the bold ones for savory dishes, the sweet ones for baked goods, desserts, and ice cream.
The majority are treated as annuals, although in warm, tropical regions a few can be grown as perennials. This herb is easy to grow and you can propagate basil from seed, by cuttings, or purchase nursery starts.
Here are 13 of our favorite cultivars to try in your herb garden this season.
13 Favorite Basil Varieties for Your Herb Garden
1. Boxwood
‘Boxwood’ features small leaves that keep a perfect, shrub-like form even in the heat of summer – just like a boxwood plant. This variety grows to a mature height of 12 inches, with a 12- to 16-inch spread.
Wonderful for containers, edging, and knot gardens, the strong flavor is superb in pesto.
You can find packets of 100 seeds or three live plants available at Burpee.
2. Cinnamon
‘Cinnamon’ is a sweet-flavored cultivar with a distinctive cinnamon taste that’s delicious in baked goods, jellies, and vinegars.
Also known as Mexican spice basil, this cultivar has narrow leaves, dark colored stems, and pretty purple flowers that add great visual appeal.
Growing to a mature height of 12-18 inches with a similar spread, ‘Cinnamon’ makes a lovely addition to your container garden or flower beds.
Find packets of seeds in a variety of sizes available at Eden Brothers.
3. Dark Opal
‘Dark Opal’ has wonderful deep purple leaves and pinky-lilac flowers that give it great ornamental value. The flavor is anise-based with a hint of ginger and it can be used in savory or sweet dishes.
Brought to market by Ferry-Morse in the 1950s, ‘Dark Opal’ was a winner of the All-America Selections Award in the flower category in 1962.
Delightful in containers, mixed beds, or anywhere you want to attract pollinators, this variety grows to a mature height of 14 inches in a compact, bushy form.
Find seeds in a variety of packet sizes available at Eden Brothers.
You can learn more about growing ‘Dark Opal’ in our guide.
4. Emerald Towers
‘Emerald Towers’ is a tall, multi-branched Genovese type with a tidy columnar habit that produces an outstanding harvest. It has a full licorice taste and a scent of spicy cloves.
A generous herb in containers or in the ground, give these plants plenty of space to grow into as they can reach a mature height of 24-36 inches with a spread of 8-12 inches.
You can find 100 seeds or a set of three plants available at Burpee.
5. Genovese
Genovese is the traditional heirloom Italian type with a pronounced anise flavor, sweet clove fragrance, and large, lustrous leaves. This cultivar grows to a mature height of 16 inches tall, with a spread of 12 inches.
A must-have for the kitchen garden, it is perfect for pesto, fresh salads, and all things savory.
Seeds are available by the packet or in bulk at Eden Brothers.
Or get a jump on the growing season with a set of three plants available at Burpee.
Find more info on growing Genovese basil here.
6. Greek
The Greek type, O. basilicum var. minimum is a compact variety with small leaves, tiny white flowers, and a neat, globular growth habit that makes it attractive in containers, edging, or rockeries.
It has a deeply spicy fragrance and strong flavor that’s best used in salad dressings, sauces, soups, and stews. Perfect for container gardens, this dwarf variety grows to a mature height of just eight inches, with a similar spread.
You can find packets of seeds in a variety of sizes at True Leaf Market.
7. Italian Large Leaf
This classic cultivar has the largest leaves of all basil plants. With a sweet and mild flavor, this variety is versatile in the kitchen and makes a delicious pesto.
Plants grow to a mature height of 24-30 inches, with a 12-inch spread. Plant in containers, in a sunny spot in your herb garden, or on a windowsill.
Find seeds in a variety of packet sizes at True Leaf Market.
8. Lemon
A key ingredient in Indonesian cuisine, the lemon variety, O. basilicum var. citriodorum, is a hybrid with a fresh lemon scent and sweet-tart flavor. Plants grow to a mature height of 20-24 inches, with a 12-inch spread.
It’s popular eaten fresh in salads and wraps or incorporated into curries, soups, stews, and stir-fries.
Find packets of seeds in a variety of sizes available at Eden Brothers.
9. Lime
Lime plants have a light, floral-citrusy flavor and fragrance – ideal for adding a touch of zest to beverages, salad dressings, sauces, and desserts.
A lovely container plant wherever the tangy fragrance can be enjoyed, this cultivar grows to a mature height of 16-24 inches, with a 12-inch spread.
Packets of seeds in a variety of sizes are available at Eden Brothers.
10. Mammoth
O. basilicum crispum ‘Monstruoso,’ aka ‘Mammoth,’ is a lettuce leaf cultivar that features huge savoyed leaves with ruffled edges and uniform growth.
It has a spicy clove fragrance and a sweetly pungent flavor similar to Genovese, but stronger. Perfect for use in Italian recipes or for pesto, ‘Mammoth’ grows to a mature height of 16 inches, with a 12- to 16-inch spread.
You can find packets of seeds in a variety of sizes at Eden Brothers.
11. Minette
Minette is a compact, small-leaved Greek cultivar, O. basilicum var minimum, with a mounding habit that’s adorable as an edging plant, in containers, or in knot gardens.
With a sweet anise flavor and scent of cloves, this variety grows to a mature height of just 10 inches with a comparable spread, and it forms a beautiful spherical shape.
You can purchase seeds at Eden Brothers.
12. Siam Queen
O. basilicum var. thyrsiflora, ‘Siam Queen’ is a Thai variety with a sweet licorice flavor that’s rewarding in the kitchen and as an ornamental.
This heirloom type has lush green leaves and purple stems, and it grows to a mature height of 10-24 inches, with a similar spread.
‘Siam Queen’ was an All-America Selections Winner in the vegetable category in 1997.
Use it to flavor curries, soups, and stir-fries but sow enough to allow some plants to bloom – the purple flower heads and pale pink blooms are gorgeous!
Packets of seeds in a variety of sizes are available at Eden Brothers.
13. Sweet
One of the most popular varieties, sweet basil has a full licorice flavor and spicy clove fragrance that’s just as nice when used fresh in salads, sandwiches, and wraps or added to pesto, sauces, and savory dishes.
Often called “common” basil, plants grow up to 24 inches tall and wide. Aromatic and flavorful, it goes fast, so be sure to plant plenty.
You can purchase seeds by the packet or in bulk at Eden Brothers.
Pesto and Beyond
Delicious, fragrant, and delightfully easy to grow, basil lends its unmistakable flavor to pesto and much more!
If you are new to growing herbs, check out our guide to starting your own herb garden.
Are you ready to add basil to your herb garden? Let us know in the comments what variety you are planting!
To learn more about growing basil, put these guides on your reading list next:
- How to Grow Basil in Your Herb Garden
- How to Dry Homegrown Basil
- How to Harvest and Save Basil Seed
- 7 of the Best Citrus Basil Varieties for Your Herb Garden
© Ask the Experts, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for more details. Product photos via Burpee, Eden Brothers, and True Leaf Market. Uncredited photos: Shutterstock. With additional writing and editing by Clare Groom and Allison Sidhu.
I’ve grown “sweet” basil a few times without really knowing what i was doing, but i got it to about 2 1/2 feet. But then again i was eyeballing the height. And i also snipped the flowers before they could form completely. So i think i got a few extra inches upward. I could smell it 20 ft away when it was growing.
Thank you for the information. This year I have added basil (mostly as a companion plant) but look forward to other uses. I have Sweet Basil & Genovesse, but plan on adding Purple Basil to the list. I’m glad you noted Genovesse was also an Heirloom.
Ok
For some reason my sweet basil leaves are so small. Trimming flowers off and pruning for use. Lots of sun and ample water. Do I need a different kind to use for Caprese salad??
If you’re trimming for use frequently Lynn, it may be that your leaves don’t time to grow large and lush. I suggest successive plantings every three to four weeks. Harvest the first wave of leaves from the oldest plants first, then move on to harvesting the next plant, then the next, and so on… this gives all your plants a chance to grow successive waves of large, delicious leaves without becoming depleted. Also, applicaton of a balanced fertilizer fertilizer every few weeks will help your plants to grow quickly and produce abundant foliage. And Sweet or Genovese are the types… Read more »
Need to know more about Thai Basil.
Go here. You’re welcome.