Digging deeperPlant Library

Purple Globe Basil foliage

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Description:

An ornamental herb producing flower spikes adorned with white and purple flowers in mid summer; flavorful foliage emerges dark purple, then becomes gray-green with dark purple veins; great for mixed containers, herb gardens, and annual beds

Edible Qualities

Purple Globe Basil is an annual herb that is typically grown for its edible qualities, although it does have ornamental merits as well. The fragrant oval olive green leaves with distinctive deep purple veins which emerge deep purple in spring are usually harvested from early summer to early fall. The leaves have a pleasant taste and a pleasant fragrance.

The leaves are most often used in the following ways:

• Fresh Eating
• Cooking
• Seasoning

Planting & Growing

Purple Globe Basil will grow to be about 10 inches tall at maturity extending to 14 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 10 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 8 inches apart. This fast-growing annual will normally live for one full growing season, needing replacement the following year.

This plant is quite ornamental as well as edible, and is as much at home in a landscape or flower garden as it is in a designated herb garden. It does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America. It can be propagated by cuttings; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Purple Globe Basil is a good choice for the edible garden, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. It is often used as a 'filler' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, providing a mass of flowers and foliage against which the thriller plants stand out. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.