Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Herbs
  
Herbs
  
Origin
Europe, Middle Africa, Southern Africa, Southern Asia, Southeastern Asia
  
Mexico, Central America, South America
  
Types
Holy basil-
  
Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
Not Available
  
shrublands, tropical grasslands
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-11
  
Not Available
  
AHS Heat Zone
11-1
  
12-1
  
Sunset Zone
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Clump-Forming
  
Upright/Erect
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
White, Light Pink, Lavender
  
Green
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Not Available
  
Green, Light Green, Tan
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Purple, Bronze
  
Green, Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Purple, Bronze
  
Green, Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Purple, Bronze
  
Green, Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
  
Light Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Oval
  
Lanceolate
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Summer, Fall
  
Summer, Fall
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Very Fast
  
Very Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
  
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
  
Ground
  
How to Plant?
Transplanting
  
Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Requires watering in the growing season, Water Deeply
  
Requires a lot of watering, Requires regular watering
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Pruning
Don't prune in the fall, Prune regularly
  
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
  
Pest Free
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Insignificant
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
Yes
  
Yes
  
Fragrant Leaf
Yes
  
Yes
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
Yes
  
Yes
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
No
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Not Available
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
Yes
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Not Available
  
Bees, Flies
  
Allergy
Respiratory problems, Runny nose, Skin rash, Vomiting
  
allergic reaction, Skin irritation
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
  
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Cough, Cramps, Digestive disorders, Insomnia, Skin Disorders, Vomiting
  
Detoxification, Insect Bites, Stomach pain, Treat Parasitic Intestinal Worms
  
Part of Plant Used
Leaves
  
Leaves, Seeds
  
Other Uses
Air freshner, Can be made into a herbal tea, Used As Food, Used as a spice
  
Pesticide, The essential oil is used as insect repellent
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable, Mixed Border
  
Container, Herb / Vegetable
  
Botanical Name
OCIMUM basilicum 'Napoletano'
  
CHENOPODIUM ambrosioides
  
Common Name
Basil
  
Mexican Tea
  
In Hindi
तुलसी
  
Dysphania ambrosioides
  
In German
Basilikum
  
Mexikanischer Drüsengänsefuß
  
In French
basilic
  
Épazote
  
In Spanish
albahaca
  
Dysphania ambrosioides
  
In Greek
βασιλικός
  
Μεξικού τσάι
  
In Portuguese
manjericão
  
Dysphania ambrosioides
  
In Polish
bazylia
  
Komosa piżmowa
  
In Latin
ocimum
  
Dysphania ambrosioides
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Tracheophyta
  
Tracheophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Lamiales
  
Caryophyllales
  
Family
Lamiaceae
  
Chenopodiaceae
  
Genus
Ocimum
  
Dysphania
  
Clade
Asterids
  
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Dysphanieae
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Chenopodioideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Season and Care of Basil and Mexican Tea
Season and care of Basil and Mexican Tea is important to know. While considering everything about Basil and Mexican Tea Care, growing season is an essential factor. Basil season is Summer and Fall and Mexican Tea season is Summer and Fall. The type of soil for Basil is Loam, Sand and for Mexican Tea is Clay, Loam, Sand while the PH of soil for Basil is Neutral and for Mexican Tea is Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline.
Basil and Mexican Tea Physical Information
Basil and Mexican Tea physical information is very important for comparison. Basil height is 15.20 cm and width 15.20 cm whereas Mexican Tea height is 45.70 cm and width 50.80 cm. The color specification of Basil and Mexican Tea are as follows:
Basil flower color: White, Light Pink and Lavender
Basil leaf color: Green, Purple and Bronze
Mexican Tea flower color: Green
- Mexican Tea leaf color: Green and Light Green
Care of Basil and Mexican Tea
Care of Basil and Mexican Tea include pruning, fertilizers, watering etc. Basil pruning is done Don't prune in the fall and Prune regularly and Mexican Tea pruning is done Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches and Remove dead leaves. In summer Basil needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water. Whereas, in summer Mexican Tea needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water.