Lamiaceae · plant
Sweet basil
Ocimum basilicum
Curated from cited sources
An aromatic culinary herb in the mint family, sold fresh and dried in supermarkets.
Detailed Nutrition AnalysisEdibility applies to listed parts only
One edible part does not make the whole plant edible. Parts marked unknown or toxic should not be eaten.Children & pets: Listed as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses by the ASPCA.
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Family
- Lamiaceae
- Genus
- Ocimum
- Native regions
- Tropical Africa and tropical Asia.
- Habitat
- Cultivated in gardens, pots and commercial farms.
- Growing conditions
- Warm, sunny position; moist, well-drained soil; pinch out flower spikes to prolong leaf harvest.
- Lifecycle
- Tender annual (short-lived perennial in the tropics).
- Flowering / fruiting
- Leaf harvest in the warm months; flowers in mid to late summer.
- Uses
- Pesto, salads, sauces, infusions; widely used fresh herb.
- Lookalikes
- Other Ocimum species and mints. Unfamiliar wild ‘basil-like’ plants should not be eaten.
- Allergies
- Allergy to Lamiaceae herbs is uncommon but documented.