Fresh basil is fragrant, spicy, and a traditional herb in summer cuisine. And while you may only know one of a few types of basils from what you can get at the grocery store, there are up to 150 basil varieties, most deriving from Ocimum basilicum (sweet basil). It can grow from 10 to 24 inches tall, depending on the variety. This annual herb from the mint family likes plenty of sun, though it will tolerate a bit of shade, and does best in well-drained, rich, loamy soil. It's native to Asia and Africa and is perennial in warm zones USDA 9 to 11, but is primarily grown as an annual. It can be planted outdoors in spring after the last frost. 01 of 17 Genovese Basil (Ocimum basilicum 'Genovese') Genovese or Italian basil is perhaps the most widely used and widely-grown basil for culinary purposes. Its large, shiny, rounded leaves are familiar to many cooks and gardeners, and it's considered the best herb for making pesto and serving raw in salads. It has a complex spicy flavor with aromatic notes of mint and clove. Easily grown from seed, Genovese basil does well in containers. Native Area: Africa, Asia USDA Zones: 9 to 11 Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade Height: 12 to 24 inches 02 of 17 Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum) Sweet basil is very similar to Genovese basil, and the names are often used interchangeably, though they are, in fact, two different plants. The color of the leaves is often somewhat lighter than Genovese basil, and the shape of the leaves is less rounded and more pointed. Its flavor is slightly sweeter and milder than Genovese, and it is sometimes thought to have a slight hint of anise or licorice flavor. Native Area: Central Asia, Southeast Africa USDA Zones: 9 to 11 Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade Height: 12 to 24 inches 03 of 17 Osmin Purple Basil (Ocimum basilicum 'Osmin purple') There are a number of purple basil. Osmin purple basil is one of the most common varieties and is a striking shade of deep purple with blue-black tones; most agree it is the darkest of the purple basil. With a spicy, clove-like flavor, it is best used fresh in salads or for garnish. The deep purple flowers can also be snipped and used in a salad. Native Area: Africa, Asia USDA Zones: 9 to 11 Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade Height: 12 to 24 inches 04 of 17 Cinnamon Basil (Ocimum basilicum 'Cinnamon') Cinnamon basil, also known as Mexican spice basil, has a mild spicy flavor with notes of cinnamon and is popular in Asian cuisine. Its bright green leaves have subtle purple veining, and the purple stems bear light purple or pink flowers. The fresh leaves are delicious in a summer fruit salad or garnish with a cheese and fruit plate. Native Area: India, Asia USDA Zones: 9 to 11 Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade Height: 12 to 24 inches 05 of 17 Lemon Basil (Ocimum basilicum citriodorum) Lemon basil is also called Thai lemon basil (or amenglak) or hoary basil. It's a hybrid that is popularly used in South Asian cooking. The leaves are firmly textured and hold up well to high cooking temperatures. It has a delightful lemony fragrance and light lemon flavor to go with its spicy basil flavor. Native Area: Africa, Asia USDA Zones: 9 to 11 Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade Height: 12 to 24 inches 06 of 17 Thai Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum var. thyrsiflora) Thai sweet basil is a popular herb in South Asian cooking, particularly in Thai cuisine. Its beautiful plants are also a show-stopper in the herb garden, with deep purple stems and flowers. The leaves are somewhat thicker in texture than sweet basil, and the flavor is mild and complex. Thai sweet basil's flavor holds up well in cooking at high temperatures. Native Area: Africa, Asia USDA Zones: 9 to 11 Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade Height: 12 to 24 inches 07 of 17 Greek Basil (Ocimum basilicum var. minimum 'Greek') Greek basil is one of the smallest basil plants, usually no taller than eight inches. The compact plants produce light green, slightly pointed leaves that grow in small, rounded clumps. It grows easily in containers and makes a nice addition to the herb garden or front of the border. The tiny leaves make it perfect for a decorative garnish or as part of a salad or other fresh summer dish. Native Area: Africa, Asia USDA Zones: 9 to 11 Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade Height: 6 to 8 inches 08 of 17 Dark Opal Basil (Ocimum basilicum 'Dark Opal') Dark opal basil is an aromatic, spicy basil that can be used like any other basil, but its stunning color makes it a very showy plant for your herb garden, as a cut flower, and, of course, at the dinner table in a salad. It is somewhat smaller than other basil, seldom growing more than 20 inches. Native Area: Africa, Asia USDA Zones: 9 to 11 Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade Height: 12 to 20 inches 09 of 17 Christmas Basil (Ocimum basilicum 'Christmas') Christmas basil is a hybrid cross between Thai and Genovese basil. It has dark purple stems and lighter purple flowers similar to Thai basil, though the leaves are the bright, shiny green of Genovese. It has a complex, herby scent that many find reminiscent of winter holiday smells, like pine needles and the fruity spice fragrance of mulled wine. Its savory flavor works great in cooking sauces, soups, and meat dishes. Native Area: Africa, Asia USDA Zones: 9 to 11 Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade Height: 12 to 18 inches 10 of 17 Cardinal Basil (Ocimum basilicum 'Cardinal') Cardinal basil is a cultivar that was developed in Israel. The showy flowers on these large plants are a dramatic addition to the outdoor herb garden. It is strongly scented and often used for flavoring oils and herb vinegar. Native Area: Israel USDA Zones: 9 to 11 Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade Height: 24 to 30 inches 11 of 17 Globe Basil (Ocimum basilicum 'Pistou') This plant is also known as pistou basil, spicy bush basil, or boxwood basil. It is a dwarf sweet basil believed to descend from sweet basil varieties in India and Asia. The tiny leaves grow in small branching clumps, forming a small round globe shape. It is perfect for snipping for bits of garnish or to use raw in salads or other dishes. Native Area: India, Asia USDA Zones: 9 to 11 Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade Height: 6 to 10 inches 12 of 17 Holy Basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum) Also known as tulsi, holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum ) is similar to other basil but has different flavors and qualities. The pale purple stems and small purple flowers somewhat resemble Thai basil, but the leaves are wavy and slightly wrinkled. It is loved for its spicy taste in Indian cooking and is also revered as a medicinal herb in Indian traditional medicine. It is a common herbal tea available in most grocery or health food stores. Native Area: India, Asia USDA Zones: 9 to 11 Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade Height: 12 to 24 inches 13 of 17 African Blue Basil (Ocimum kilimandscharicum × basilicum ‘Dark Opal’) This colorful plant is said to be a hybrid of dark opal basil and camphor basil. It can be grown as a perennial in warm regions and reaches up to 4 feet tall. Its camphor basil origins give it a slight camphor fragrance, along with notes of clove and mint. Its taste is peppery, minty, and complex. The flowers of the African blue basil are a delicate pale blue or purple color and beautiful to pollinators, especially honeybees. Letting some of this go to flower is a good idea if you want to attract beneficial pollinators to your garden. It is flavorful for salads or hot dishes and a beautiful, fragrant addition to cut flower arrangements. Native Area: Africa, Asia USDA Zones: 8 to 11 Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade Height: 24 to 48 inches 14 of 17 French Basil (Ociumum basilicum 'Marseilles') French basil is also known as Marseilles basil. It is an heirloom globe basil, and its compact plant has slightly larger leaves than other globe basils. It has a robust and delicious fragrance. In French cuisine, it is used to make pistou, which is a sauce similar to Italian pesto. Native Area: India, Asia USDA Zones: 9 to 11 Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade Height: 8 to 10 inches 15 of 17 Napoletano Basil (Ociumum basiclium 'Neopolitan') This basil is native to Naples, Italy, and is widely grown and used in Europe. It has large, ruffly dark green leaves with a strong flavor and is considered one of the best basil varieties for making Caprese salad. This variety is slow to bolt, giving it a slightly longer growing season than other basil. It is also sometimes known as large-leaf basil or lettuce-leaf basil; the plant remains relatively small despite having very large leaves. Native Area: Italy USDA Zones: 8 to 11 Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade Height: 10 to 12 inches 16 of 17 Lime Basil (Ocimum americanum) Closely related to lemon basil, lime basil herb has a zesty flavor and a sweet, citrusy aroma. Its leaves are a little smaller than Genovese basil and narrower, flat, and tapering to a point with jagged edges. It is grown the same way as other types of basil—it can grow outdoors in warm weather and indoors on a sunny windowsill. It's an easy plant to grow in containers. Native Area: Africa, India, China, Southeast Asia USDA Zones: 9 to 11 Sun Exposure: Full sun Height: 15 to 36 inches 17 of 17 Green Ruffles Basil (Ocimum basilicum 'Green Ruffles') You would have difficulty recognizing this as basil; it looks much more like curly lettuce but has serrated, ruffled edges. It has a lighter, sweet basil taste with cinnamon, citrus, and licorice hints. Ted Torrey, an herb breeder from Burpee in the United States, developed green ruffles basil. He also made purple ruffles basil from crossing green ruffles with dark opal basil. Native Area: United States USDA Zones: 10 to 11 Sun Exposure: Full sun Height: 18 to 24 inches Tips for Growing Basil Basil loves the sun, but if you notice wilting during days of harsh sun, give shade or water more thoroughly. Basil plants like regular water. Basil germinates 7 to 10 days after planting and is usually ready for harvest within three to four weeks. Basil grows indoors or outdoors; it only needs six to eight hours of steady sunlight to grow well. Prune basil monthly (1/3 of the leaves) to encourage bushier, healthier growth. Avoid bolting or the plant producing flowers and seeds by reducing its exposure to intense heat; pinch off the flowering stems 1 inch below the bud to prevent them from tasting bitter. Do not fertilize basil; too many nutrients can make basil lose its signature taste.

Are you looking for the ultimate spreading flower for your garden beds or containers? Wave petunias are a wonderful hybrid that will transform your garden. In this article, plant expert Matt Dursum covers how to plant, grow, and care for these stunning bloomers. Wave® petunias are some of the most stunning flowers for spreading over beds and containers. They spread fast and cover surfaces with waves of color, true to their name. They almost form carpets of colorful blooms in magnificent pinks, lavender, and lilac. Besides their color and vigorous growing habit, they’re easy to maintain. If you’re a novice gardener, you’ll love their carefree nature. Grow them in containers, hanging gardens, garden beds, or in your favorite pots. Keep reading below to learn how to grow these wonderful petunia varieties. They’ll quickly become one of your favorite flowers. What Is It? Wave® petunias are hybrid petunia varieties that have a spreading growth habitat. The Japanese beer maker Kirin partnered with PanAmerican Seed to create a new petunia variety in 1995. They wanted a petunia that would stun the world with its beauty. The first Wave® petunia was the Purple Classic. Since then, the company has marketed the flowers around the world. The Home and Garden Television Network (HGTV) first broadcasted the flowers on US television in 1999 as an advertisement. Today, Wave® petunias are some of the world’s most beloved petunia varieties. You can find several cultivars, including ‘Carmine Velour,’ ‘Lavender,’ and ‘Misty Lilac.’ Characteristics Like other petunia varieties, Wave® hybrids grow vigorously. They can grow as tender perennials or as annuals. They can be sensitive to cold and need plenty of warmth and sunshine to thrive. As they grow, they spread out to form a carpet-like cluster of flowers around a foot high. The blooms last for the entire summer if they’re well cared for. Native Area As mentioned before, these petunias are hybrids. However, the genus Petunia comes from South America. Its origins lie in the vast plains of Uruguay, Argentina, and Brazil. European horticulturalists first started hybridizing petunias in the 19th century. Since then, new hybrids created five distinct types of plants in the genus. Grandiflora produce huge flowers up to 5 inches wide while milliflora flowers stay under 2 inches. Multiflora varieties produce tons of flowers, while floribundas combine the traits of multiflora and grandiflora. Wave® petunias are trailing varieties grown for their spreading growing habits. Planting These hybrids grow great in just about any container or garden bed. They’ll thrive as hanging plants or spread out like carpets of colorful ground cover.

While most Napa cabbage is green, ‘Merlot’ shakes things up with bright purple leaves. Join farmer Briana Yablonski to learn how to grow this colorful and delicious veggie. If you love the taste of ‘‘Napa’ cabbage but are looking for something new, put ‘Merlot’ on your list of brassicas to grow. This variety produces leaves with a taste and texture similar to other types of Chinese cabbage, but they’re bright purple instead of green! ‘Merlot’ has similar care requirements as other cabbages but is pickier about water and temperature. Therefore, you should pay special attention to planting time and irrigation. Keep reading to learn the ideal planting windows, how to deal with common pests, and more. What Is It? While you may think all heads of cabbage are round, Chinese cabbages produce thinner leaves and upright heads. They’re popular additions to soups and stir-fries and are a key ingredient in kimchi. Like most brassicas, ‘Merlot’ grows best in cooler weather. Since it matures more quickly than traditional cabbage varieties, it’s a good option if you’re working with a short growing season. Characteristics While most types of Chinese cabbage have green leaves, the ‘Merlot’ variety is vibrant purple. The plants have an upright, elongated shape and feature leaves with thick, crunchy ribs and thinner foliage. The heads grow to about a foot tall and can weigh upwards of a pound. Planting You can grow ‘Merlot’ cabbage from transplants or seeds. However, since this variety is somewhat new and rare, you may have to start from seed. I recommend starting the seeds in seed trays and planting them outdoors when they’re a few weeks old. How to Grow Growing ‘Merlot’ Chinese cabbage is similar to growing green Napa cabbage like ‘One Kilo’. However, this purple variety is likelier to bolt and experience tip burn. Therefore, they are slightly more challenging to grow than their green cousins. Maintenance Fortunately, ‘Merlot’ doesn’t require much maintenance! After the plants are in the ground, you should keep an eye out for weeds and remove them when they’re young. Adding mulch around the bases will limit weed growth and decrease the amount of time you need to spend pulling weeds.