Ocimum ‘African Blue’ (African Blue Basil)

African Blue Basil: A Striking Culinary and Ornamental Herb

Ocimum ‘African Blue’, commonly known as African Blue Basil, is a rare, aromatic hybrid basil prized for its ornamental beauty and bold, complex flavor. A cross between Ocimum kilimandscharicum (Camphor Basil) and Ocimum basilicum ‘Dark Opal’, it is sterile, meaning it doesn’t set seed. As a result, it blooms profusely over a long season, drawing in bees and other pollinators while adding color and fragrance to the garden.

Basil belongs to the mint family, Lamiaceae, which also includes notable herbs such as rosemary, mint, sage, oregano, and thyme.

Native Range

African Blue Basil does not occur naturally in the wild—it is a manmade hybrid first discovered in Ohio in the early 1980s. Its parent plants are native to East Africa and Southeast Asia.

Plant Type and Habit

This plant is a short-lived perennial in warm climates and is often grown as an annual elsewhere. African Blue Basil forms a bushy, upright plant with purple-green stems and colorful foliage that transitions from deep purple in youth to green as it matures.

Size

African Blue Basil can grow up to 12-36 inches tall (30-90 cm) and wide, making it one of the taller basil cultivars.

Lifespan

It is a sterile perennial, often grown as an annual in cooler climates. Without the need to set seed, it flowers continuously throughout the warm season.

Flowers

From summer into fall, African Blue Basil produces long, showy spikes of lavender-pink flowers along dark purple stems. The fragrant blooms are particularly attractive to bees and butterflies.

Fruits

Because it is sterile, African Blue Basil does not produce viable seeds. This trait encourages long-lasting blooms and minimizes unwanted self-seeding.

Foliage

The smooth, broad leaves start deep purple when young and turn green with purple veining as they mature. The foliage is fragrant and flavorful, with an earthy, camphor-like aroma and notes of clove, musk, and menthol. The underside of the leaves is often speckled with purple.

Flavor Profile

• Earthy and Aromatic: A pungent, camphorous scent complemented by musky, minty, and spicy undertones.
• Menthol & Clove: Strong herbal flavor with cooling menthol and warming clove notes.
• Best Used Fresh: Due to its bold taste, it is ideal for fresh preparations or as a garnish.

Hardiness

Heat tolerant, African Blue Basil is perennial in USDA zones 10–11 but is typically grown as an annual in colder regions. It is sensitive to frost and prefers warm conditions for optimal growth.

Uses

• Culinary: Edible leaves, stems, and flowers. Use in pestos, dips, salads, sandwiches, soups, pasta, and infused oils.
• Ornamental: Purple-tinged leaves and vibrant flowers provide standout visual interest in borders and containers.
• Aromatic: Strongly scented foliage adds fragrance to herbal arrangements and potpourris.
• Pollinator Garden: Excellent source of nectar for bees and butterflies due to prolonged flowering period.

Wildlife Value

African Blue Basil is a pollinator magnet. Its sterile blooms stay open longer, offering a consistent nectar source for bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.

Drought Tolerance

Once established, African Blue Basil can handle short periods of dryness, but regular watering helps maintain foliage quality and flavor.

Deer and Rabbit Resistance

Thanks to its strong scent and essential oils, African Blue Basil is generally unappealing to deer and rabbits.

Toxicity

According to the ASPCA, basil, including African Blue Basil, is non-toxic to cats and dogs.

Invasiveness

African Blue Basil is sterile and does not produce seed, eliminating concerns about invasiveness or unwanted reseeding.

Benefits of African Blue Basil

Health Benefits

• Rich in Antioxidants: Contains vitamins A, C, and K, along with manganese, iron, calcium, and magnesium.
• Anti-Inflammatory: Essential oils like eugenol and camphor may help reduce inflammation.
• Antimicrobial: Possesses antibacterial and antifungal properties that support immune function.

Culinary Uses

• Blend into pesto, chimichurri, salad dressings, or sauces for a bold herbal note.
• Top pizzas, bruschetta, or grain bowls with leaves or edible flowers.
• Add to teas, cocktails, or desserts for a fragrant twist.

Cultural Significance

• Selected in 2006 by the Florida Landscape Growers and Nursery Association as a top garden performer.
• Favored for ornamental value, longevity of bloom, and ability to attract pollinators.

How to Grow and Care for African Blue Basil

Planting

• Location: Full sun (6–8 hours daily). Some partial shade is tolerated in the afternoons in hot climates.
• Soil: Moist, fertile, well-drained soil with pH 6.0–7.5.
• Spacing: 12–18 inches (30–45 cm) apart to allow airflow.
• Timing: Transplant after the danger of frost has passed.

Watering

• Water deeply when the top inch of soil is dry. Avoid soggy soil.
• Container-grown plants may require more frequent watering.

Fertilizing

• Feed monthly with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer.
• Avoid overfertilizing to prevent excessive foliage growth at the expense of flavor.

Pruning

• Regularly pinch growing tips to promote branching.
• No need to remove flower spikes due to the plant’s sterility.

Overwintering

• Bring indoors before frost in colder climates.
• Grow in bright windows or under grow lights during winter.

How to Harvest African Blue Basil

When to Harvest

• Begin harvesting once the plant is about 6–8 inches tall (15–20 cm).
• Morning harvest preserves essential oils for best flavor.

How to Harvest

• Pick leaves individually or cut stems just above a leaf node.
• Harvest regularly to maintain growth and flavor.

Preserving

• Wrap in a damp paper towel and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
• Freeze chopped leaves in oil or water, or make herb butter or pesto for long-term storage.
• This basil variety does not dry well.

How to Propagate African Blue Basil

From Cuttings Only (Sterile Hybrid)

• Take 4–6 inch (10–15 cm) stem cuttings from healthy, non-flowering branches.
• Remove the lower leaves and place the stems in water or moist potting mix.
• Keep in bright, indirect light. Roots should form in 5–10 days.
• Transplant once roots are 1–2 inches long.

African Blue Basil: A Visual and Culinary Delight

Combining ornamental splendor with rich culinary potential, African Blue Basil is a garden standout. Its striking purple-green foliage, camphor-scented blooms, and pollinator-attracting flowers make it a vibrant, multi-purpose herb. Although it cannot be grown from seed, it more than makes up for it with continuous blooming and flavor-packed leaves.