5 Basil Varieties For Your Herb Garden: We love all the herbs in our garden, but basil is our favorite. Basil is a herb that you can grow indoors or outdoors, in the ground or in pots, and it’s nice to have around when you’re cooking different kinds of vegetables.
5 Basil Varieties For Your Herb Garden
There are dozens of different kinds of basil besides the sweet, large-leafed basil that is usually used in Italian cooking. We can’t list them all here, but we want you to have a list to get you out of the basil rut. Which one do you think will become your new favorite?
1. Lemon Basil
Lemon basil is my favorite herb in the garden, but I love all things lemon. It grows up to 12 to 18 inches tall and has lighter green leaves.
It smells and tastes wonderful, like lemons. You can put it on top of grilled vegetables, in teas, and as a garnish.
2. Cinnamon Basil
Cinnamon basil smells and tastes spicy, but not as strong or sweet as its hot and sweet cousins. It makes grilled vegetables, marinades, fried rice, salads, and fruits taste better.
It’s often used in Asian cooking. Thai basil is not the same as cinnamon basil, even though the two names are sometimes used interchangeably. It gets 12 to 18 inches tall.
3. Holy Basil
Holy basil, which is also called tulsi, is highly valued in Indian cooking for its sweet and spicy smell and musky flavor.
However, the raw taste is a bit bitter, so it’s best used in cooked dishes. It gets 20″ tall and has leaves that are green and red.
4. Spicy Globe Basil
You won’t believe this was the first basil I ever grew in my garden. I love how it tastes spicy and how round and compact it is.
You can put it in soups, salads, and pasta, and you can grow it in pots to make an interesting edible topiary.
5. Greek Basil
It’s true that everything is cuter when it’s small. Greek basil only grows to be 6 to 10 inches tall, which makes it great for container gardening and borders. Its spicy anise flavor makes it a must-have for any Greek-inspired dish.
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6. Dark Opal Basil
Dark Opal basil grows to be about 18 inches tall and has dark burgundy leaves that taste like cloves. It is an interesting herb to add to oils and vinegar.
As an ornamental garden plant, its leaves are also grown because they look nice.
7. African Blue Basil
Something that sounds this strange must be something you love, right? African Blue basil can grow up to 4 feet tall, and it will come back next year as long as it doesn’t freeze.
Yay for basil that grows back! I had no idea. Its strong pepper, clove, and mint scent (great for meat and vegetable dishes) and purple-tinged leaves and flower spikes are also benefits.
But seed-starting fans, take note: this one is sterile, which means it can’t make seeds and needs to be started from cuttings or transplants.
8. Thai Basil
You’re right that Thai basil is a common herb used in Thai cooking. It tastes a bit like licorice and stays tasty even when cooked at higher temperatures.
The pointed leaves are a darker color, and the plant itself grows to be about 2 feet tall.
9. Green Ruffles Basil
What about a basil plant whose leaves are curled and have a mild taste? Green Ruffles is great in pasta dishes because the leaves are big and curled, but it’s also great in salads. It gets 20 to 24 inches tall.
10. Lettuce Basil
Only about a foot tall, this one has lettuce-like leaves that are 4” wide and up to 10” long! It takes a while to flower, so it tends to stay alive longer in the summer. Its mild flavor makes it perfect for making lettuce wraps.
