Planting several types of basil is the best way to sample this herb’s delicious diversity.
Marty Baldwin
Basil is one of summer’s quintessentialculinary herbs.
In the garden, it thrives in the heat.
Credit:Marty Baldwin
Here are 20 of the best types of basil to grow in a summer garden.
It grows 18 to 24 inches tall.
‘Amethyst’ has large, nearly black leaves on 16- to 20-inch plants and a similarly sweet flavor.
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Leaves have a spicy cinnamon scent and sweet flavor.
‘Boxwood’
This basil is almost as tidy-looking as aboxwood shrub, and certainly as ornamental.
Growing to about a foot tall, the plant has small leaves and produces spikes of pale lavender flowers.
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‘Cardinal’
The big purple flowers on this basil variety grab attention in gardens and bouquets.
Plus, the spicy-sweet flavor of the leaves stand out in whatever you’re cooking.
It typically tops out at 24 to 30 inches tall.
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This basil variety reaches 18 to 20 inches tall.
It has a licorice flavor that’s typical of Thai basils.
Topping out at 8 to 10 inches tall, it’s ideal for a container or window box.
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It has big, sweetly flavored leaves on 18- to 24-inch-tall plants.
It grows to about 16 to 22 inches tall.
Plants typically reach 15 inches tall.
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Burns Lemon'
This jot down of basil tastes and smells lightly of citrus.
It grows quickly, reaching up to 24 inches tall.
‘Pesto Perpetuo’
The variegated leaves of this basil variety are pretty in both gardens and salads.
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The non-flowering columnar plant reaches up to 24 inches tall.
It’s a South Asian bang out of basil, so expect a bit of spiciness.
It has a sweet flavor with hints of anise and cinnamon.
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‘Spicy Globe’
Dean Schoeppner
Tight on space?
They have a mild flavor with a hint of anise.
Growing culinary herbs isn’t as tough as it might sound.
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To grow the widest variety of basil, you’ll want to start from seeds.
No matter which varieties you tryand we encourage you to try many!basil does best infull sunwithregular watering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Basil is an annual that grows very quickly.
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Basil has a strong aroma with oils that will repel many garden pests, from flies to mosquitoes.
Gently touching the leaves will release even more oils, making its repelling effects even stronger.
Basil works best when planted besides vegetables instead of other herbs.
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Overwatering is the biggest problem gardeners have when growing these edible plants.
Give basil about one inch of water per week, making sure the soil remains damp but not drenched.
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Credit:Holly Shimizu
Credit:Denny Schrock
Credit:Courtesy of Johnny’s Selected Seeds
Credit:Peter Krumhardt
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Credit:Denny Schrock
Credit:Denny Schrock
Credit:Dean Schoeppner
Credit:Courtesy of Johnny’s Selected Seeds
