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Licorice Basil is known for its distinctive licorice-like flavor ideal for Thai and Asian cuisines. Plants are ornamental with purplish-red stems and small burgundy flowers. Regular harvesting of leaves early in the day preserves essential oils. Propagation is by seed; harvesting seeds after flowering is straightforward.
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Ocimum basilicum Licorice Basil
Ocimum basilicum Licorice Basil is a striking, aromatic annual herb, valued for its distinctive purple stems, dark green foliage, and bold, spicy anise flavor. Growing to about 12 to 24 inches tall with a spread of 12 to 18 inches, this variety is perfect for culinary herb gardens, ornamental borders, and container plantings where both flavor and visual contrast are desired. Unlike the mild sweetness of Genovese basil, Licorice Basil offers a sharper, more intense profile similar to tarragon or fennel, filling the garden with a sweet, spicy scent that intensifies in the summer heat.
Culinary and Practical Uses
- The sturdy, aromatic leaves are an essential component in Southeast Asian cuisine, providing the signature anise kick to Thai curries, Vietnamese pho, and stir-fries.
- Excellent for infusing into syrups, cocktails, and herbal teas, where its natural sweetness and licorice notes add depth without the need for added sugar.
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Traditionally used in herbal practices to settle the stomach, freshen breath, and as a natural insect repellent due to its strong essential oils.
Characteristics
- Foliage: Narrow, dark green leaves with a purple flush and deep purple stems; possesses a strong, spicy licorice (anise) fragrance distinct from sweet basil.
- Growth Habit: Upright, bushy, and vigorous; the sturdy stems make it less prone to flopping than other basil varieties and an excellent cut flower filler.
- Flowers: Produces stunning, deep purple flower spikes (inflorescences) in late summer, which are highly ornamental and attract a multitude of pollinators.
- Seeds: Harvested after the purple flower heads dry and turn brown; the small black seeds are easily collected and saved for the following season.
Growing Requirements
- Sun: Thrives in full sun; requires at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight to maintain its purple coloration and concentrated flavor oils.
- Soil: Adapts to most soil types but prefers rich, fertile, well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5; warm soil is essential for germination.
- Water: Requires moderate watering; keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, as it is slightly more drought-tolerant than large-leaf sweet basils once established.
- Spacing: Plant seeds or transplants 12 to 18 inches apart to allow for air circulation and accommodate its bushy growth.
- Maintenance: Pinch off the growing tips frequently to encourage branching; while the flowers are beautiful, removing them prolongs the harvest window for culinary leaves.
Shipping Info
Licorice Basil seeds ship as fresh, high-quality, viable seeds that are carefully packaged for stability and protection from damage during transit. Prompt shipping supports reliable germination and seasonally appropriate planting.
Growing Zones
2a - 11a
Your Growing Zone:
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Low Temperature
50°F
High Temperature
95°F
Fragrant
Yes
Polinator Required
No
Polinator Friendly
Yes
Flower Color
Green Pink Purple
Growth Rate
Fast
Soil
Rich, fertile, well-draining soil
Moisture
Moderate
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Mature Spread
12 - 18 inches
Mature Height
12 - 24 inches
Bloom Period
Late Summer to Early Fall
Pruning Time
Throughout the season
Pet Safe
Yes
Perennial / Annual
Annual
Evergreen / Deciduous
Deciduous
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Customer Reviews
Overall rating: 4.7 / 5 from 397 reviews.
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Haven’t transplanted yet, but it’s a beautiful plant. We are gifting it to a friend that moved…Friendship Plant is very appropriate!
I love it
Truly tiny is still tiny but healthy!
It seems to be doing well but could have been packed better.
Blossom Dale did a wonderful job with packaging and Sedum Autumn Joy plants arrived in great condition and are thriving. So far so good.
The milkweed is not doing well...
Very healthy cutting. Followed the instructions and let it get acclimated to its new surroundings for a couple of weeks before repotting. Would not hesitate to purchase from this business again 😃
Plants arrived in great condition. This plant has only been in the ground about 10 days and is growing a lot. The plant cage is 12” tall so it’s doing well. I put guards around my new plants for a little while because I have bunnies who love tender young leaves.
Got this for my wife’s birthday. Plan to pot it soon.
I got 2 mystery plants (one indoor and one outdoor). The indoor was a pilea and the outdoor plant was a white blackberry. White blackberry was dramatic, but it’s making a comeback and the pilea is doing great!
Came in well packed and the plant was alive and healthy!
Even though the newest leaf was broken off it seems to be doing well
My little banana arrived happy and healthy!
The plant arrived well packaged with instructions on how to get started. It had been doing really well and has been growing like a weed!
It is just putting roots down now.
Received in great condition, transplanted just before heavy rain and its thriving
Just a little shock put her in a fabric pot on the back porch full sun should be happy thank you for the lovely plant
Fair price good looking plant can’t wait for it to get bigger!
Need to upgrade your packaging. I would suggest taping the plant in place in the cardboard tube on the count that it slid and smashed itself. Luckily, it's a strong plant and should recover. Hoping.for the best.
So Beautiful. Packaged well . Love my little guy.
It’s so cool I love it!!!
She is doing well even after a rough delivery. She is thriving and putting on new growth. Thank you.
The plant arrived after a few delivery reroutes. It came with three leaves two so far are healthy one was dying and has since died. The two remaining leaves appear to be doing well.
After overcoming the initial travel stress. The plants are doing well.
The follow up plants were very good
Customer service here is second to none! Very very happy and already made another purchase. But anyway, I ordered 1 and they sent me 2 beautiful babies! I'm so excited to watch them grow!
This little guy came in perfect. Despite the cat knocking it over and being placed in the soup cup for safer keeping, it’s thriving and happy. Once it’s bigger then it will make its way outdoors.
I like it very much and looking forward to eating some cherries
This is my first year of ordering live plants on line. I live in an apt, but have a nice size patio to do container planting. I'm waking up my green thumb and loving it.
Got a great little house plant for $9.99!!!
I am very happy for all the Butterworth I got extra like usual which was nice I put them all in pots for now I'll do my project later after they get growing thank you
Plant came packaged perfectly. Fast shipping. Can’t wait to see it grow!
I received what I believe is a very healthy plant. Unfortunately, the shipping was very hard on the plant. It is quickly bouncing back. Wish I would have known it was a seedling .
The package arrived with no issues. The fig was very stable & looked like it came out of the nursery (it did). The USDA certificates for Gypsy moth /Japanese beetles ensures the plant were checked makes me feel I finally found an institution which cares about the customer & plant. Thanks Jose
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I’m excited about this tiny banana tree and can’t wait to see it grow more! It came well packed and in perfect shape. Now this beautiful little plant has burned leaves, but that’s my fault because I left it out on my patio in the sun for a long time. Don’t do what I did. But you can see a new leaf already sprouting in the middle and just about to unfurl. I have no doubt this tiny tree will grow well.
Cute and healthy
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