This lovely perennial herb's leaves have a spicy peppery flavour, which reduces in heat when cooked. The leaves are somewhat tougher than sweet basil and so may need a little more cooking, but work well in slow cooked meals and are a great cold climate winter sweet basil alternative. We find them delicious chopped fresh in salads, chopped cooked with scrambled eggs and in tomato pasta sauces.
Prefers full sun, tolerates light shade, so is a great permaculture understorey plant. Needs a moderate amount of water, suitable for pots. Glossy green leaves with toothed edges, spray of small purple flowers attract bees. Plants self seed readily if seeds are left to dry and drop. Our plants easily have lasted 3-5 years in pots. Cut back regularly to keep bushy.
This plant is available as tube stock size
Note: due to quarantine restrictions we are unable to post plants to Tasmania and WA.