Basil - Holy (Ocimum tenuiflorum)
Ocimum tenuiflorum
Also known as Tulsi, this aromatic mint has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years and is a sacred Hindu plant. Holy basil is considered an adaptogen and has myriad medicinal qualities. All of the aerial parts are edible. Holy basil’s sweet, buttery flavor will do wonders for a stir-fry and makes for an incredible iced tea.
In our mild northwest climate, the growth habit is comparable to Italian basil and, like other basils, it will continue to produce if pruned throughout the season. If left to flower, it becomes a fragrant insectary plant – bees and other pollinators go wild for the pale purple flowers. Holy basil is a tender annual that prefers a warm, dry growing season. Though greenhouse conditions are ideal in the Pacific Northwest, it can also thrive outside in the hot summer months. It is highly frost-sensitive and should be started indoors.