14 Types Of Basil And Why You Should Grow Them
Basil is one of the most popular and widely used herbs in the world. It is a staple in cuisine from the United States to Italy, Thailand, and beyond. But there is not just one type of basil. There are nearly 150 types of basil growing around the world. Some are more popular than others, but many varieties of this delicious and refreshing herb are worth growing in your herb garden.
Some of the most popular types of basil that are easy to grow in most gardens include Genovese, Thai, sweet, Napoletano, and various purple basil varieties. Holy basil is great for making medicinal tea or Indian cuisine, while Greek basil is a fantastic spicy variety. African blue basil is a great pollinator, and globe basil is great to grow if you have limited space.
With so many types of basil available, it is hard to choose just one type to grow in your garden. The good news is you don’t have to choose just one. You can grow several types of basil in your herb garden, as each variety has different flavors and culinary uses. Below is a list of some of the absolute best basil varieties, and reasons why you should grow each of them in your garden.
Top 14 Types Of Basils To Grow In Your Herb Garden
1. Genovese Basil
Genovese basil is the most commonly grown variety of basil, especially in North America. It is a staple in Italian cooking, and it has a slightly sweet, and very fragrant classic basil flavor. It is known for its signature shiny leaves and typically grows up to 24 inches in height.
Why You Should Grow It: Genovese is an easy-to-find and versatile basil and is ideal for many home cooks. It is a great herb to spruce up a boring meal.
2. Thai Basil (Lemon Basil)
Thai basil, also known as lemon basil, has a citrus and spicy flavor, as its name suggests. This type of basil is what you find in Thai, Vietnamese, and other Southeast Asian cuisine. It has smaller pointed leaves and is much spicier than Genovese and sweet basil. What truly sets this basil apart is its signature lemon flavor and spice that is reminiscent of clove.
Why You Should Grow It: This is the perfect basil to grow if you like cooking Asian cuisine, especially Thai food. Unlike some other basil, you can cook this herb at high temperatures, and it still maintains its flavor.
3. Sweet Basil
Another wildly popular variety of basil you should consider growing in your garden is sweet basil. People sometimes think that Genovese basil and sweet basil are the same, but these are two different varieties.
Sweet basil has a slightly less shiny look and is more pointed. It also has a sweeter flavor and less spice than Genovese basil.Â
Why You Should Grow It: This is a great basil for those who want to add refreshing basil flavor to a dish without adding much spice. It’s also a great and non-offensive garnish.
4. Thai Sweet Basil
Just as its name suggests, this is the Thai version of the aforementioned sweet basil. It has similar leaves to Thai (lemon) basil, but it has lovely purple flowers. The purple flowers make it a lovely herb to add to your flower arrangements, as it is sure to add color and fragrance.Â
Why You Should Grow It: This is a less-spicy Thai basil, making it a great option for those who want to do Asian cooking with fresh basil, but prefer milder flavors.Â
5. Dark Opal Basil
What makes dark opal basil special is its deep purple color. It also has great flavor. Its spice, size, and flavor are similar to Genovese basil, although it has a slightly more spicy flavor. Its deep purple color makes it unique, and worth growing alongside your green basil varieties.
Why You Should Grow It: If you want a show-stopping garnish, look no further than dark opal basil. It is great to use in caprese salads mixed with sweet basil as contrast, and tastes (and looks) great in salads.
6. Napoletano Basil
If you are growing basil to use in Italian cooking, particularly caprese salads and margarita pizza, then you will want to plant Napoletano basil. This type of basil originated in Naples, Italy (hence its name), and it is no surprise that its vibrant and balanced flavor pairs perfectly with all the famous Italian dishes that originated in this Italian seaside region.Â
Why You Should Grow It: This is the ultimate basil for Italian food lovers. You can add this type of basil to pasta pomodoro, pizza, and any salad to boost the flavor, and add authenticity.
7. ‘Aristotle’ Greek Basil
Italy is not the only country that has its own signature basil flavors. Greece also has several unique varieties of basil, including the delicious Aristotle basil. Aristotle basil and all Greek basils have a specific spice, and go great in Greek and other classic Mediterranean cuisines. It is also a small and compact plant, making it a great herb to grow indoors near a window.
Why You Should Grow It: This is a great basil plant to grow indoors. It is also great for those who love Greek salads, and like to make Southern Mediterranean cuisine at home.
8. Holy Basil
One of the most unique basil varieties you should consider growing in your garden is holy basil. This basil has beautiful purple stems and large green-to-purple leaves. It is known for its anise spice flavor. You can find it in many Asian dishes, especially in Indian cuisine.
Why You Should Grow It: This is a unique basil that is a great addition to any herb garden. This type of basil is great in many Indian and other Asian dishes. You can also make a great medicinal tea with this basil.
10. Cardinal BasilÂ
What distinguishes Cardinal basil from others is its color. This basil grows bright red flowers before it seeds, making it a striking addition to any herb garden. Furthermore, its strong aroma makes it one of the best varieties for making flavored oil and vinegar.
Why You Should Grow It: This basil’s red flowers make it one of the most beautiful basil to grow. It’s also the best basil for those looking to make basil-infused oil.
11. Christmas Basil
If you want to grow basil that will make your home smell like a Christmas tree and the holidays throughout the year, then you should grow Christmas basil. This basil has pretty white and purple flowers and has a similar spice level to Thai basil. What makes it unique is its evergreen and spicy fragrance that is synonymous with Christmas.
Why You Should Grow It: This fragrant and beautiful basil is great for flower arrangements, as well as garnishing all sorts of dishes.Â
12. Marseilles Basil (French Basil)
For those looking to master the refined art of French cuisine, you should plant some Marseilles basil in your herb garden. This basil is essentially the French answer to Napoletano basil. It has a balanced flavor, with a similar spice content to Italian basil, but is popular in French dishes that call for this herb.
Why You Should Grow It: This basil is ideal for those looking to cook French cuisine, especially if you want to make pistou, which is French pesto.
13. African Blue Basil
African blue basil is both beautiful and fragrant. It has bluish-purple leaves and can grow three to four feet in height. This towering basil has lots of flowers, and it attracts lots of pollinators. Honey bees in particular love to flock to this spicy and aromatic herb.
Why You Should Grow It: This is the best basil plant for those looking to attract pollinators to their herb garden.
14. Spicy Globe Basil
Spicy globe basil is another small and spicy basil variety. What makes this basil particularly noteworthy is its size and shape. It grows in a globe-like shape and is usually less than a foot tall. This makes it a great basil for a container garden or those with limited space.
Why You Should Grow It: This small basil makes a great garnish and is perfect for those who have limited space to grow herbs.
Wrapping Up The Best Types Of Basil To Grow In Your Garden
With nearly 150 different types of this sweet and spicy herb, it can be hard to choose the best varieties of basil to plant. Genovese, sweet, Marseilles, and Napoletano basil are all classic basil varieties that are great in Italian, French, and other Mediterranean cuisine. Thai basil and holy basil are more spicy and are fantastic in Asian cuisine. Christmas basil and cardinal basil both have lovely flowers and great aromas, making them perfect for garnishing.
Related Guides:
- 11 Easiest Herbs To Grow At Home
- Best Plants To Grow By The Kitchen Window
- Best Plants To Keep Bugs Away
Tom Gaffey is an expert writer who currently resides in Washington D.C. Tom has a passion for real estate and home improvement writing, as well as travel and lifestyle writing. He lived the last twelve years in Hawaii where he worked closely with luxury resorts and event planners, mastering his knowledge of aesthetics and luxury products. This is where he found his passion for home improvement and a keen interest in DIY projects. Currently, Tom resides in Washington D.C, and also working on his debut fiction novel.
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