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 The listing is in alphabetical order by common name. Most herbs have many uses including culinary, medicinal and as insect attractors. I have used the following icons to indicate the common, modern uses and attributes of the listed varieties. Key to icons:  attracts bees  attracts butterflies attracts hummingbirds has medicinal uses use for tea
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| Botanical Name | Ocimum basilicum |
| Common Name | African Blue Basil
|
| Attribute | Warm season annual |
| Cultural Requirements | Full sun, average water |
| Mature size, Spacing | Ht: 18"-24" , 12" |
| Other Information | Ornamental landscape variety. Vigorous grower. Leaves have a bluish-green color, soft texture. Light lavender flowers. Can be perennial in warm climates or may reseed. |
| Botanical Name | Ocimum basilicum |
| Common Name | Anise Basil
|
| Attribute | Warm season annual |
| Cultural Requirements | Full sun, average water |
| Mature size, Spacing | Ht: 15"-18" , 8"-10" |
| Other Information | Culinary variety with medium size leaf and light licorice flavor. |
| Botanical Name | Ocimum spp. |
| Common Name | Aussie Sweet Basil
|
| Attribute | Warm season annual |
| Cultural Requirements | Full sun, average water |
| Mature size, Spacing | Ht: to 24" , 8"-10" |
| Other Information | Culinary variety with medium size light green leaf and sweet flavor. Very vigorous variety that does not flower and set seed. No need to prune flowers. |
| Botanical Name | Ocimum basilicum |
| Common Name | Baja Basil
|
| Attribute | Warm season annual |
| Cultural Requirements | Full sun, average water |
| Mature size, Spacing | Ht: 18"-24" , 12" |
| Other Information | This variety comes from Baja Mexico. The leaves have a very sweet, cinnamon flavor. Medium green leaves and white flowers. Delicious in fruit salads, chutney and other fruity dishes. |
| Botanical Name | Ocimum basilicum |
| Common Name | Cinnamon Basil
|
| Attribute | Warm season annual |
| Cultural Requirements | Full sun, average water |
| Mature size, Spacing | Ht: 18"-24" , 12" |
| Other Information | Violet color stems, veining and flower bracts, lavender flowers. Culinary variety with a soft cinnamon flavor. Especially good with Middle Eastern and Asian style cooking. Delicious in fruit salad dressings. One of our favorites. |
| Botanical Name | Ocimum basilicum |
| Common Name | Compact Genovese Basil
|
| Attribute | Warm season annual |
| Cultural Requirements | Full sun, average water |
| Mature size, Spacing | Ht: 12"-15" , 8" |
| Other Information | Standard Italian basil flavor on a compact bush with nice large leaves. White flower spikes. Great for container planting. |
| Botanical Name | Ocimum basilicum |
| Common Name | Genovese Basil
|
| Attribute | Warm season annual |
| Cultural Requirements | Full sun, average water |
| Mature size, Spacing | Ht: 18"-20" , 12" |
| Other Information | Full flavor, bright green leaf. Traditional Italian variety. Standard basil flavor. Good leaf production. White flower spikes. Perfect for pesto. |
| Botanical Name | Ocimum basilicum |
| Common Name | Green Ruffles Basil
|
| Attribute | Warm season annual |
| Cultural Requirements | Full sun, average water |
| Mature size, Spacing | Ht: 18"-24" , 12" |
| Other Information | Also called "Lettuce Leaf Basil". Culinary variety with traditional sweet basil flavor. Large, crinkley, green leaf. White flower spikes. Very attractive in the garden and in salads. |
| Botanical Name | Ocimum sanctum |
| Common Name | Holy Basil
|
| Attribute | Warm season annual |
| Cultural Requirements | Full sun, average water |
| Mature size, Spacing | Ht: 18"-24" , 12" |
| Other Information | Ocimum sanctum. "Kaprao" in Thailand, "Tulsi" in India. Culinary variety with musky scent with a hint of mint. Bluish green, hairy leaf. Historical variety. Reseeds freely. |
| Botanical Name | Ocimum sanctum |
| Common Name | Holy Red and Green Basil
|
| Attribute | Warm season |
| Cultural Requirements | Full sun, average water |
| Mature size, Spacing | Ht: 18"-24" , 12" |
| Other Information | Culinary and ornamental. Traditionally found in Thailand, musky flavor with hint of cloves. Very attractive green leaf splashed with red. Excellent for flavorful tea. |
| Botanical Name | Ocimum sanctum |
| Common Name | Italian Large Leaf Basil
|
| Attribute | Warm season |
| Cultural Requirements | Full sun, average water |
| Mature size, Spacing | Ht: 18"-24" , 12" |
| Other Information | Produces very large leaves. One can cover a slice of bread! Good basil flavor and fragrance. |
| Botanical Name | Ocimum basilicum |
| Common Name | Lemon Basil, Mrs. Burns'
|
| Attribute | Warm season annual |
| Cultural Requirements | Full sun, average water |
| Mature size, Spacing | Ht: 18"-24" , 12" |
| Other Information | Culinary, heirloom variety from southeastern New Mexico. Intense lemon flavor, bright green leaves, white flower spikes. Somewhat slower to bolt than other lemon varieties. Great with fish and chicken or fruit salads. |
| Botanical Name | Ocimum basilicum |
| Common Name | Lime Basil
|
| Attribute | Warm season annual |
| Cultural Requirements | Full sun, average water |
| Mature size, Spacing | Ht: 18"-24" , 12" |
| Other Information | Culinary. Light lime flavor. White flower spikes. Great for fruit salads. |
| Botanical Name | Ocimum basilicum |
| Common Name | New Guinea Basil
|
| Attribute | Warm season annual |
| Cultural Requirements | Full sun, average water |
| Mature size, Spacing | Ht: 18"-24" , 12" |
| Other Information | Very colorful plant with narrow leaves, 2" long and about 1/2" wide. Tops of leaves are dark green tinted with dark purple. The leaf veins and undersides are dark purple. Aroma is strong licorice with a little mint and spice mixed in. Very ornamental and edible. |
| Botanical Name | Ocimum basilicum |
| Common Name | Osmin Purple Basil
|
| Attribute | Warm season annual |
| Cultural Requirements | Full sun, average water |
| Mature size, Spacing | Ht: 18"-24" , 12" |
| Other Information | Culinary. Darkest purple leaves and stems on medium size plant. Pale lilac flowers contrast beautifully with the purple leaves. The sweetly-scented leaves are the smallest of the the purple basils. |
| Botanical Name | Ocimum basilicum |
| Common Name | Purple Ruffles Basil
|
| Attribute | Warm season annual |
| Cultural Requirements | Full sun, average water |
| Mature size, Spacing | Ht: 18"-24" , 12" |
| Other Information | Culinary, ornamental. Purple leaves on a compact plant are large and ruffled, with a scent of cloves and licorice. Light pink flowers make this especially attractive in the garden. Makes a delicious, beautiful cranberry-colored flavored vinegar....try it! |
| Botanical Name | Ocimum basilicum |
| Common Name | Red Rubin Basil
|
| Attribute | Warm season annual |
| Cultural Requirements | Full sun, average water |
| Mature size, Spacing | Ht: 18"-24" , 12" |
| Other Information | Culinart, ornamental. This purple version of the regular Italian Large Leaf has a sweet scent. The leaves are coppery reddish purple. Very lovely. |
| Botanical Name | Ocimum basilicum |
| Common Name | Spicy Globe Basil
|
| Attribute | Warm season annual |
| Cultural Requirements | Full sun, average water |
| Mature size, Spacing | Ht: 12"-15", 8"-10" |
| Other Information | Culinary, ornamental. This variety grows only to about 15" in a neat globe shape, needing no pruning. Especially good container variety. White flowers. Good flavor, too. |
| Botanical Name | Ocimum basilicum |
| Common Name | Sweet Italian Basil
|
| Attribute | Warm season annual |
| Cultural Requirements | Full sun, average water |
| Mature size, Spacing | Ht: 18"-24" , 12" |
| Other Information | Culinary variety. Standard, traditional green-leaf selection. Perfect for pesto or chopped fresh and sprinkled on garden-grown tomatoes with olive oil. |
| Botanical Name | Ocimum basilicum |
| Common Name | Thai Basil, "Siam Queen"
|
| Attribute | Warm season annual |
| Cultural Requirements | Full sun, average water |
| Mature size, Spacing | Ht: 18"-24" , 12" |
| Other Information | Culinary, ornamental. Red stems and flowers in clusters, green leaf. Very attractive. Licorice-basil aroma. Essential for Thai cuisine. |