Sweet Basil
Blue Spice basil captivates gardeners with its extraordinary fragrance that blends vanilla and clove into what Baker Creek calls 'the most fragrant basil.' This vigorous annual produces striking purple-tinged leaves and dense spikes of light purple flowers enclosed in deep purple bracts, creating a stunning display whether grown in containers or garden beds. Ready to harvest in 70-90 days (though some sources suggest 60-75), this heat-loving herb thrives in temperatures of 70-85°F and makes an exceptional addition to pollinator-friendly gardens.
Full Sun
High
10-11
?in H x ?in W
Annual
High
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What sets Blue Spice basil apart is its intoxicating aroma that combines sweet vanilla with warm clove notes, earning it recognition as the most fragrant basil variety. The plant's visual drama matches its scent, displaying purple-tinged foliage crowned with showy lavender flower spikes wrapped in deep purple bracts. This dual-purpose beauty serves as both a culinary treasure and an ornamental showpiece, vigorous enough to thrive in containers while attracting beneficial pollinators to the garden.
Blue Spice basil excels in both sweet and savory applications, with its vanilla-clove fragrance making it particularly valuable for fruit salads and desserts where its spicy-sweet profile adds complexity. The aromatic leaves enhance teas with their unique flavor blend, while the ornamental flower spikes serve beautifully as fragrant fillers in fresh bouquets, bringing garden scents indoors.
Start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost date. Sow seeds on the soil surface at 1/4 inch depth, as they need light to germinate. Use seed-starting mix and press seeds lightly without covering completely. Maintain soil temperature of 70-85°F for germination in 6-10 days.
Transplant outdoors once danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed. Space plants 8-12 inches apart for proper airflow and growth.
Direct sow outdoors once frost danger has passed and soil has warmed. Prepare a sunny, well-drained garden bed, scatter seeds thinly on the surface, and press lightly into soil.
Harvest leaves regularly by pinching or cutting stems just above a set of leaves to encourage bushy regrowth. Avoid removing more than one-third of the plant at a time to ensure healthy continued production. For seed saving, cut flower stems when bottom seed heads start turning brown and dry away from direct sun in well-ventilated area.
Regularly pinch off growing tips to encourage bushier growth and delay flowering. Remove flower buds for continuous leaf harvest, though the ornamental lavender flowers can be left if you prioritize pollinator attraction over leaf production.
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