PlantFiles: Red Basil
Ocimum basilicum 'Red Rubin'

Having previously only grown green basil varieties, I was eager to try this purple type. I love it. It has been very easy to grow, and I believe that it is even more aromatic than the typical green varieties. My husband enjoys it so much he actually asked me to make a salad using the basil as the "lettuce." (While my husband always liked the other basil I grew, he never seemed that excited about it.) I haven't made the salad yet, due to the fact that this seems a little excessive to me. But, now that I know how much he enjoys this variety, I have been VERY liberal in my use of it. My two year old son also loves to eat the leaves straight off the plants.

I grew this plant in a couple of different locations this year. I have a pot of basil in full sun that looks magnificant. The leaves are all a deep purple/black color. I wanted to use this as an ornamental/usable plant in my blue and purple flower garden. I love the way the follage reflects the colors of the flowers in the garden. In addition, when I do let this basil flower, they are lavendar/purple flower spirals.

I ran out of room for my basil seedlings, so I ended up planting the remaining seedlings in with the tomatoes. The tomatoes have now taken over the area and hidden the basil. These basil plants get little to no sunlight. While they are not as big and leafy as my other plants, they are in no way a disappointment. Due to the fact that they get almost no sun, the leaves are green. However, all the veins in the leaves are still the deep purple color, making the leaves very striking to look at. I like to use these leaves, along with some of the others as garnishes. They make a very attractive, attention grabbing display on a plate or dish.

As someone else mentioned, it is important to pinch this variety back, as with all basil, in order to keep it from getting leggy. This produces a dense, round little plant.

Also, I found that Japanese beetles like to nibble on the leaves. Left unchecked, they would consume my plants. Interestingly enough, they don't seem to have found the basil under the tomato plants. I only have to keep an eye on my basil in full sun.

I purchased this plant and placed it in a pot indoors near a sunny window. I was told not to put it outside until frost danger has passed. It did not survive inside, it wilted and died within one week. Who can help?

An improved version of 'Dark Opal'. Among my favorite basils, both for taste and appearance. One of the more uniform colored purple varieties. As with most basils, keep pinching back throughout the season to keep plants compact and productive. The flowers (tall pale purple salvia-like spires) are just lovely, but if the plants are being used as edibles, best not to let them flower/go to seed until early fall.