edible · design plant record

Ocimum basilicum

Sweet basil

A warm-season leafy herb for a regularly checked container or food bed. Compact and taller forms have different support needs.

Height at maturity

0.1–0.91 m (0.3–3 ft)

Spread at maturity

0.1–0.36 m (0.3–1.2 ft)

Light

Sun / Part shade

Moisture

Moist, draining soil

Source-reported USDA zones

10–10 · verify subzone and cultivar

NC State lists winter hardiness in zone 10. Elsewhere it is commonly grown as a warm-season annual; this zone value does not prevent summer growing with suitable local timing.

Principal seasonal role

Summer

Fit it to the site

Moist, draining soil; full sun is the source preference, with partial-shade tolerance. Cold weather and cultivar requirements still matter.

Reject outdoor planting while cold conditions persist. A small container or extended absence can make water supply unreliable.

Keep the care in the decision

Pinch appropriate growing tips to encourage branching and inspect for leaf disease. Choose locally appropriate disease resistance; do not infer immunity from a cultivar label.

Origin & safety checks

Tropical Africa and Asia.

Use culinary seed or transplants with a known growing history and appropriate food hygiene. This profile is not an essential-oil or medicinal-use recommendation.

Check current invasive restrictions with your local plant-health or extension authority. For pets, use the exact botanical name in a veterinary toxicity reference; for potential ingestion or exposure, get appropriate professional advice rather than relying on a design guide.