Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Tree
Herbs
Origin
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States
Middle Africa, Southern Africa, Southern Asia, Southeastern Asia
Types
Nyssa sylvatica
Ocimum basilicum purpurascens
Number of Varieties
53
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Lowland, Sandy areas, Wet Woods
gardens, Wet lands
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-99-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9-7
11-1
Sunset Zone
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
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
Habit
Pyramidal
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
1,828.80 cm60.96 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
762.00 cm30.48 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow green
Purple, Light Pink, Lavender
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Dark Blue, Black
Tan
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green
Purple, Dark Green, Burgundy, Bronze
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Purple, Dark Green, Burgundy, Bronze
Leaf Color in Fall
Crimson, Dark Red, Orange Red
Purple, Dark Green, Burgundy, Bronze
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Oblovate
Oval
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Slow
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam
Loam, Sand, Well drained
The pH of Soil
Acidic
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Poorly Drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Summer
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Wet Site, Drought, Soil Compaction
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Rooted stem cutting, Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Medium
Keep ground moist, Requires regular watering, Water when soil is dry
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic
Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, Loam
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Poorly Drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Pruning
Prune in early spring, Prune in late winter, Prune when plant is dormant, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Pinch or prune as they grow to promote branching and bushiness
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
Drought
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Bold
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
-
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
-
Allergy
Mild Allergen, Pollen
Respiratory problems, Runny nose, Skin rash, Vomiting
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Used in parkland, Water gardening
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for animals, Food for birds, Nesting sites for birds, Shadow Tree, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife, Windbreak
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Emetic, Opthalmic, Vermifuge
Cough, Cramps, Digestive disorders, Insomnia, Skin Disorders, Vomiting
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Seeds
Leaves
Other Uses
Food for insects, Used as a dye, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Air freshner, Can be made into a herbal tea, Used As Food, Used as a spice
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees
Bedding Plant, Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable, Mixed Border
Botanical Name
NYSSA sylvatica
OCIMUM basilicum var. purpurascens
Common Name
Black Tupelo, Blackgum, Sour Gum
Purple Basil
In Hindi
Black Tupelo Tree
बैंगनी तुलसी के पौधे
In German
Schwarz Tupelo Baum
Lila Basilikum Pflanze
In French
Noir Arbre Tupelo
plante de basilic pourpre
In Spanish
Árbol negro Tupelo
planta de albahaca morada
In Greek
Μαύρη Tupelo Δέντρο
Μωβ βασιλικό φυτό
In Portuguese
Árvore Tupelo Preto
Planta da manjericão roxo
In Polish
Czarny Tupelo Drzewo
Purpurowy bazylia roślin
In Latin
Niger Tupelo ligno
Ocimum, herba Purple
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Cornales
Lamiales
Family
Nyssaceae
Lamiaceae
Genus
Nyssa
Ocimum
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Asterids
Tribe
Bombini
-
Subfamily
Nyssoideae
-
Number of Species
45150
1
27800
👆🏻