Ocimum basilicum var. thyrsiflora
Thai basil, oriental basil, horapha: not to be confused with holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum), which is a different species. Thai basil is immediately recognizable by its purple stems and spicy, anise-like fragrance reminiscent of licorice—a distinctive aroma unlike that of European sweet basil.
Characteristics:
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Anise-like aroma: powerful, spicy fragrance, very different from classic basil, which holds up well during cooking.
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Decorative growth: 40 to 60 cm tall, with purple stems and slightly toothed leaves.
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Purple flowering: highly decorative purple flower spikes in summer, appreciated by pollinators.
Sowing advice:
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Position: full sun, with plenty of warmth—this is a Southeast Asian plant and it dislikes the cold.
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Soil: light, rich in organic matter, and well drained. Unlike many Mediterranean herbs, basil appreciates fertile, moist soil: adding compost benefits it. However, it cannot tolerate standing water.
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Method: sow from March to June, in pots under cover (20 °C) or directly in the ground after the last frosts. Lightly cover the seeds and keep them moist until germination, in 7 to 14 days. Do not soak or stratify. See how to sow your seeds.
Care advice:
- Water regularly at the base, without excess or wetting the foliage.
- Pinch the stems regularly just above a pair of leaves: this encourages branching and delays flowering, extending the harvest.
Harvesting advice:
- Pick the leaves as needed, preferably in the morning. Fresh leaves are the most fragrant, but they freeze very well, preserving the aroma better than drying.
Beneficial pairings:
- It fits perfectly in a bed of Asian herbs, alongside chili peppers, coriander, or lemongrass. Like classic basil, it pairs well with tomatoes in the vegetable garden. See companion planting in the vegetable garden.
Benefits for biodiversity:
- If allowed to flower at the end of the season, its purple spikes are heavily visited by bees and bumblebees—a good reason to sacrifice a few plants to flowering.
Uses:
- Essential in soups, curries, stir-fries, salads, and spring rolls in Thai, Vietnamese, and Laotian cuisine. Its powerful aroma stands up to cooking, unlike sweet basil.
Symbolism:
In Thai culture, basil is associated with luck and hospitality, and sometimes plays a role in Buddhist ceremonies.
Harvesting your own seeds:
Leave a few flower spikes to dry completely on the plant until they turn brown, then rub them over a container: the small black seeds will come loose from the calyxes. Be aware that basils cross-pollinate easily: isolate your seed plants if you grow several varieties. See how to store your seeds.
Commitment to Quality: at SemiSauvage - Permaculture, we grow and select our seeds with respect for living things as our guiding principle. Based near the Auvergne Volcanoes, we choose open-pollinated, non-hybrid varieties, test them for germination rates, and carefully sort and package them without any chemical treatment. Our belief: to restore gardeners' ability to resow, year after year, seeds that truly belong to them.
Bring the flavors of Southeast Asia to your vegetable garden with these Thai basil seeds.
