Ocimum basilicum

Sweet Basil, Common Basil

Colour

White or pale pink

Varieties

Message of the Flower

Discipline

The Mother’s Comment

Sets the example and hopes to be followed.

Colour

White, pink

Message of the Flower

Joy of Union with the Divine

The Mother’s Comment

Abundantly scented, it fills the heart with joy.

Colour

White

Family

Lamiaceae

Cultivars

Numerous, including 'Genovese', 'Thai', 'Purple', 'Lemon', 'Cinnamon'

Person who named the flower

Carl Linnaeus

Flower Size

Small, a few millimeters across

Flower Texture

Smooth

Number of Petals

Five

Floral Symmetry

Bilaterally symmetrical.

Fragrance of Flower

Leaves and flowers have a strong, pleasant aroma

Leaf Texture

Smooth to slightly hairy

Leaf Arrangement

Opposite

Leaf Color

Green, with some cultivars having purple or variegated leaves

Structural Variation (Shrub or Tree)

Herbaceous plant

Life Cycle

Annual

Blooming Period

Summer

Climate

Prefers warm, tropical to subtropical climates

Water Requirements

Moderate, prefers well-drained soil

Soil Type

Rich, well-drained

Temperature Ranges

Warm, not frost-tolerant

Sun or Shade

Prefers full sun

Susceptibility to Insects and Diseases

Can be susceptible to downy mildew, fusarium wilt, and pests like aphids

Pollinators

Attracts bees and other pollinators

Habitat

Originated in India, Africa, and Asia; now cultivated worldwide

Role in the Ecosystem

Culinary use, attracts pollinators, used in companion planting

Ornamental

Grown for its aromatic leaves and attractive foliage

Uses in Other Aspects of Life

Culinary, medicinal, ornamental, and sometimes religious ceremonies

Endangered Status

Not endangered; widely cultivated

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