Common name(s): Sweet Basil, Sabja Plant
Scientific name: Ocimum basilicum
Description
The plant tastes somewhat like anise, with a strong, pungent, sweet smell. Basil is very sensitive to cold. It is best grown in hot, dry conditions. While most common varieties are treated as annuals, some are perennial, including African Blue and Holy Thai basil Sticky Wild Basil is a subshrub, growing from a woody base. Branchlets are finely velvet-hairy, 4-angled, becoming round later. Leaves are decussate, elliptic to nearly round, up to 2 x 1.5 cm, densely velvet-hairy below, base flat, margin rounded toothed, tip blunt; leaf-stalk to 1 cm. Flowers are borne in whorls of 6, on a 3-chotomous raceme at branch ends.
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Plant care and instructions
Make sure that the soil is moist. Basil plants like moisture. If you live in a hot area, use mulch around the basil plants (the mulch will help keep the soil moist). Make sure to pick the leaves regularly to encourage growth throughout the summer. After 6 weeks, pinch off the center shoot to prevent early flowering. If flowers do grow, just cut them off.
Light - Full sunlight.
Place - Ensure your outdoor site gets 6 to 8 hours of full sun daily.
Water - Keep soil moist throughout the growing season. Make sure that the soil is moist. Basil plants like moisture.
Fertilizer - Use any organic fertilizer.
Temperature - 25 to 30 Degrees C
Special Features
It has compounds that can help to alleviate anxiety and depression, increase your ability to think clearly and lower the risk for age-related memory loss. Essential oils in basil, including eugenol, linalool, and citronellol, can help to fight inflammation in the body.
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