Purple Basil PLANT – Untreated & Heirloom – Ocimum basilicum – Perennial Basil Dark Opal Herb

Aromatic basil variety with magnificent dark purple foliage and sweet aniseed flavour. It can be used the same way as sweet basil to flavour food, make tinctures, essential and infused oils. Basil is highly regarded as a medicinal plant with many health benefits (read the interesting facts about basil in the description below). It can be grown in a pot, too.

Some interesting facts about basil: “Due to its antimicrobial, insecticidal activity and very pleasant aroma, basil essential oil is widely used in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and aromatherapy industries. In addition, now-a-days public prefers natural food additives hence naturally derived antimicrobial agents from basil have become more important in antimicrobial packaging as they present a perceived lower risk to consumers. Aromatic leaves and flowering parts of O. basilicum are traditionally used as stimulant and tonic agents used in folk remedies to treat various ailments such as poor digestion, stomach-ache, feverish illnesses, nausea, abdominal cramps, gastro-enteritis, migraine, insomnia, depression, gonorrhoea, dysentery, and chronic diarrhoea exhaustion. Externally, they have been applied for the treatment of acne, loss of smell, insect stings, snake bites, and skin infections. Rosmarinic acid (RA) is the most biologically active compound present in Basil. The extract of the herb is used in preventing cardiovascular diseases through improved diet and several antioxidant compounds it contains display a high antioxidant power. (Ullah et.al., 2023)”

The price is for one potted plant supplied in a small pot.

Planting and growing tips:

1. Give it a good drink and place it in a half-shade position out of the wind.
2. Leave it in the original pot for a few days until it recovers from the journey.
3. Re-pot or plant into the ground at the latest when the roots start to come out of the bottom holes.
4. Watering straight after planting is essential! From then on as required.
5. It doesn’t like to sit in water so a well-drained position is best. All our edibles grow happily and quickly in slightly raised garden beds.
6. It does best in partial shade and in many types of soil, however, the better the soil, the quicker and better the plant will grow.
7. Grow in your garden or a pot.

Additional notes:

• The price is for one young plant in a small pot, naturally grown with lots of love in my permaculture food forest in Pacific Haven QLD Australia. Sending within Australia only, not to NORFOLK ISLAND, NT, SA, TAS, or WA. Pick up by appointment only.
• Most of our nursery plants grow in a semi-shade. Introducing them to the sun slowly before replanting to their permanent position will promote healthy growth.
• Do your research before trying any new foods. Please also note our disclaimer in the footer of this page.

References:

Muhammad Arshad. Ullah., Ali, Hassan., and Ameer, Hamza (2023), Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum) Products as Medical Treatment of Human Diseases, J. Nutrition and Food Processing, 6(3); DOI:10.31579/2637-8914/124 https://www.auctoresonline.org/article/sweet-basil-ocimum-basilicum-products-as-medical-treatment-of-human-diseases