Ocimum thrives in well-drained soil and requires full sunlight for optimal growth. Regular watering is crucial, but be cautious of overwatering to avoid root rot. A special care point to note is ensuring good air circulation to prevent fungal diseases, which ocimum is prone to. Providing consistent warmth is beneficial for its growth, particularly in cooler climates.
Watering schedule: Every week
Sunlight Requirements: Full sun
| Care Difficulty | Easy |
| Lifespan | Annual |
| Watering Schedule | Every week |
| Sunlight Requirements | Full sun |
| Soil pH | 6-7.5 |
| Hardiness Zones |
2-11
|
Scan QR code to download
Sweet basil is a species of mint plant native to Asia and Africa. It is a popular houseplant, and thrives when it receives plenty of regular sun and water. This plant is also easy to transfer from one soil environment to another. The edible sweet basil leaves can be eaten fresh or dried with pizza, salads, soups, teas, and many other dishes.
Holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum) is a fragrant herb that’s indigenous to India. It’s a popular ingredient in Thai cuisine. When used for this purpose, it’s called Thai holy basil. Adherents of the Vaishnava strain of Hinduism use it in religious ceremonies. Holistic practitioners worldwide place immense value on the aromatic essential oil derived from the plant.
African basil (Ocimum gratissimum) has an accurate name since it is a member of the basil family native to Africa, although you'll now find it in many tropical and subtropical climates as an introduced species. This aromatic herb is used in cooking to flavor foods. It is also grown commercially because it's widely used as an essential oil.
Ocimum americanum, known as American basil or "hoary basil", is an annual herb with white or lavender flowers. It is used for medicinal purposes. Despite the misleading name, it is native to Africa, the Indian Subcontinent, China, Southeast Asia. The species is naturalized in Queensland, Christmas Island, and parts of tropical America.
Lemon basil, hoary basil, Thai lemon basil, or Lao basil, (Ocimum × africanum) is a hybrid between basil (Ocimum basilicum) and American basil (Ocimum americanum). The herb is grown primarily in northeastern Africa and southern Asia for its fragrant lemon scent, and is used in cooking. Lemon basil stems can grow to 20–40 cm (8–20 in) tall. It has white flowers in late summer to early fall. The leaves are similar to basil leaves, but tend to be narrower with slightly serrated edges. Seeds form on the plant after flowering and dry on the plant. Lemon basil is a popular herb in Arabic, Indonesian, Philippines, Lao, Malay, Persian and Thai cuisine.
Common issues for Ocimum based on 10 million real cases
