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Ocimum gratissimum
Also called East Indian Basil, Russian Basil, Clove Basil, Shrubby Basil, Tree Basil
African basil (Ocimum gratissimum) is a clove-scented subshrub or shrub in the mint family, native to Africa and southern Asia and widely grown for its aromatic leaves. It needs warmth and sun, and grows as a woody perennial in frost-free climates.
Ocimum gratissimum, also known as African basil, clove basil, East Indian basil, Russian basil, shrubby basil, tree basil, and in Hawaii as wild basil, is a species of basil. It is native to Africa (including Madagascar) and southern Asia and introduced to Mexico, Panama, the West Indies, Brazil, Bolivia and the Pacific.
In Nigeria, scent leaves are used in making pepper soup, local rice, beans, plantains, even regular soup, and other delicacies.
Lemon basil · American basil · Ocimum basilicum var. minimum · Basil · Least basil · Hoary basil · Holy basil · Basil
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Ocimum gratissimum by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
