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Ocimum gratissimum
Native to tropical and subtropical Africa and Asia. This basil goes by many local names throughout Africa and is called Scent Leaf in Nigeria and the African Diaspora. In the Indian subcontinent it is called Vana, meaning “tree” in Sanskrit. It is indeed a wild and hardy perennial in its tropical home and can reach 6 feet in its native range! Grown as a rugged woody annual in regions that experience killing frosts. In our zone 5 we start Vana by mid March and even in our short growing season these beautiful plants easily reach three feet tall with a thick bushy habit. Thrives through heat, drought and is very disease resistant even as our cool and wet autumns approach. The dense, lush and velvety foliage gives off an invigorating clove smell with the slightest summer breeze. These powerful eugenol rich leaves are used to flavor traditional cuisine and also for medicinal purposes to aid stomach ailments, colds and for use as insect repellant.
Taxonomical Note: We had previously referred to this plant as Vana Tulsi Holy Basil, but with further inquiry we learned that the name Tulsi, or more specifically Tulasi, is reserved for Ocimum tenuiflorum/sanctum, the species of Holy Basil grown and held as sacred in India. These plant beings, called Tulasi, are the Earthly manifestations of the Goddess Tulasi in Vedic tradition. To avoid adding confusion to what appears to be a confounding taxonomical topic, we are not referring to basils, other than Rama Tulsi and Shyama Tulsi, with the name Tulsi.
Sowing & Growing Information Coming Soon!
