HOLY BASIL SEEDS

Ocimum tenuiflorum

Yet another “tulsi" basil. One that is common to containers in India and elsewhere in Asia. Becomes woody quite quickly, can be pruned to shape, and is reluctant to flower. Overwinters easily indoors. Sweet clove fragrance and flavor. Very nice and uniform selection.

Soft green leaves are subtly scalloped and can become a bit leathery given full sun. Seeming perennial, or more likely a woody subshrub, the plants are very different in habit from our self-sowing annual Sacred Basil. Consider growing Sacred Basil outdoors in the garden, and this Holy Basil in a pretty container. Suitable for bonsai. Thoughtfully snip whole sprigs rather than individual leaves for tea. Plants recover more slowly from snips than other species, but this is the nature of woody plants.

Start these seeds indoors under lights any time: press seeds into moist soil and just barely dust with fine vermiculite if you feel like it. Mist generously and cover with plastic to maintain moisture. Kept warm (around 70°F) in bright light the seeds usually germinate within two weeks. Prick out seedlings with true leaves to grow on in individual pots in bright light at room temperature. These plants require less direct sunlight than most basil and the plants will be quite happy in a windowsill. Pinch early to encourage branching.

Packet contains at least 100 seeds.