Basil varieties & types at a glance

Popular basil varieties & species at a glance

To give you an overview of the different basil species and varieties, let's start with a botanical classification. All basil varieties are part of the Lamiaceae family and belong to the genus 'basil' (Ocimum). Within this genus, there are around 60 basil species and even more basil varieties. There are many different varieties of the "herb of kings". The best known is the green, large-leaved "Genovese" variety, but there are also red or small-leaved varieties. Those who like special fragrances can choose lemon or cinnamon basil. These varieties, as well as the Indian Tulsi basil or Thai basil, can be dried and used in your own tea creations or as a spice.

What types of basil are there?

Genovese basil is definitely one of the best-known basil varieties. Its large leaves are particularly popular for pesto. Thai basil is an important ingredient in Southeast Asian cuisine and a valued medicinal plant. It has a special aroma reminiscent of aniseed. Lemon basil complements fish dishes or fresh salads particularly well with its fresh and lemony aroma. Another very aromatic variety is the small-leaved bush basil, which is ideal for growing in pots. We will introduce you to these and other varieties in more detail below.

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In our library you will find information on the individual basil varieties with cultivation periods, tips on planting and harvesting. You will also find good and bad neighbours to help you plan a mixed crop.

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Genovese basil (Ocimum basilicum "Genovese")

The common basil (Ocimum basilicum) is probably the most commonly used species in our latitudes. When we talk about basil, we usually mean this species. Many other varieties are subspecies of this species and are often the result of cross-breeding with it and other basil species. A particularly popular variety of this type of basil is'Genovese', which is especially popular for pesto, as it contains a lot of essential oils in its leaves.

This basil variety is characterized by its intensely spicy taste. It can be easily recognized by its bright green, relatively large and egg-shaped leaves. Under good conditions, Genovese basil grows up to 50 cm tall, making it a rather tall-growing variety. This variety is not hardy and only grows as an annual anyway, so it needs to be re-sown every year.

African shrub basil (Ocimum x africanum)

The shrub-like plant with dark green leaves and purple veins is not only pleasing to the eye, but also has a great aroma that can be classified somewhere between vanilla and camphor. This type of basil originally comes from Africa and grows perennially in its native country. However, the plants must be kept frost-free over winter as they are not hardy.

An example of a basil variety of this type is 'African Blue' (Ocimum kilimandscharicum x basilicum). These varieties usually grow relatively tall and can reach a height of up to 80 cm.

Lemon basil (Ocimum citriodorum)

Here, too, the name says it all. The lemony basil flavor is ideal for fish dishes, ice cream or cold drinks. It is also great in tea blends! The annual species has light purple flowers and bushy, green leaves. This type of basil tends to grow small and bushy. It usually only grows between 20 and 30 cm/7.9 and 11.8 in tall.

There are varieties that originate from wild Italian varieties and are related to mountain mint. On the other hand, there are also varieties that originate from African basil species. These varieties are very robust and are characterized by hairy leaves. Some lemon basil varieties are also derived from American varieties (Ocimum americanum), such as 'Sweet Lemon' or 'Lemonette'.

Greek basil (Ocimum basilicum var. minimum)

This particularly small-leaved variety is very similar in taste to Genovese basil. However, the aroma is more delicate due to the smaller leaves. This variety grows quite bushy and dense. As a result, these basil varieties only reach heights of between 15 and 30 cm/5.9 and 11.8 in, but are generally more resistant and easier to care for than large-leaved varieties. However, these varieties are also not hardy and must be brought indoors for the winter.

Red basil

The dark purple color of the plant is mainly due to the anthocyanins formed. Anthocyanins generally serve to protect plants from too much sunlight. This is why the leaves turn a more intense red if you cultivate the herb in a sunny spot. This already reveals that most red-leaved varieties tend to originate from very warm, sunny areas. They are perennial in their native habitat, but in our latitudes they need to overwinter in a warm place. There are no hardy red-leaved basil varieties. In terms of cultivation and care, red varieties do not differ from green-leaved varieties.

Red basil varieties can be found in a wide variety of species and is more of a collective term that describes the leaf coloration. There are numerous red basil varieties such as 'Dark opal' or 'Purple delight'.

Thai basil

Thai basil is not a defined plant species, but refers to a spice. This spice can contain different varieties. These basil varieties originate from Asia and the spice contains either Thai basil (Ocimum basilicum var. thyrsiflora), also known as sweet basil, or Indian basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum), also known as Tulsi basil. These species are characterized by their slightly sweet taste, which is somewhat reminiscent of liquorice or aniseed.

In India, this type of basil is a highly valued medicinal plant. In other parts of Asia, this basil is often used to refine dishes. In Thailand and Vietnam in particular, it is impossible to imagine the kitchen without this herb. The leaves are green, while the stems and flowers are purple.

Mexican cinnamon basil (Ocimum basilicum 'Mexican')

As the name suggests, this type of basil smells and tastes mildly of cinnamon. The flowers and leaves are therefore ideal for desserts or dried in teas. The leaves of the annual plant are green, the stems purple and the flowers red. This herb grows to a height of between 30 and 60 cm/11.8 and 23.6 in. Originally, cinnamon basil comes from Mexico and therefore does not tolerate cold or frost.

Are there hardy basil varieties?

Basil cannot cope with cold temperatures. The herb cannot survive below 7 ° C/44.6 ° F and dies. This applies to all basil varieties, so basil is never hardy. So if you have planted a perennial variety, you will need to bring the plants inside to overwinter. Alternatively, you can choose an annual variety and sow new seeds every year.

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Cover picture by EmilyStimac on Pixabay.