Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Herbs
Shrub
Origin
Europe, Middle Africa, Southern Africa, Southern Asia, Southeastern Asia
Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean
Types
Basil, African blue basil
Cestrum nocturnum
Number of Varieties
605
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
-
Warm and moist climatic conditions
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-119-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
11-1
12-10
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
13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
15.20 cm120.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
15.20 cm180.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Burgandy, Lavender
White, Light Green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
-
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Purple, Bronze
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Purple, Bronze
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Purple, Bronze
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Oval
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Very Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Transplanting
Stem Cutting, Transplanting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires watering in the growing season, Water Deeply
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
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
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
Prune in the growing season, Prune to half of its height, Remove dead branches
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
fertilize every 2-3 weeks while growing, light feeding and water solubles
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Aphids, Black spots, Caterpillars, Foliar disease, Sap-Sucking Insects, White spots
Plant Tolerance
Drought
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
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
-
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
-
Hummingbirds
Allergy
Respiratory problems, Runny nose, Skin rash, Vomiting
Asthma, Respiratory problems
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Cough, Cramps, Digestive disorders, Insomnia, Skin Disorders, Vomiting
Analgesic, Antidepressant, Antiseptic, Antispasmodic, Aphrodisiac, Conjuctivitis, Fever, Immunity, Urine infections, Used as a sedative
Part of Plant Used
Leaves
Flowers
Other Uses
Air freshner, Can be made into a herbal tea, Used As Food, Used as a spice
Oil is used in perfume, soaps, creams, etc.
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable, Mixed Border
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Hedges, Mixed Border, Screening, Wind Break, Topiary, Bonsai, Espalier, Tropical
Botanical Name
Ocimum tenuiflorum
CESTRUM nocturnum
Common Name
Basil
night-blooming jasmine, night-blooming cestrum, lady of the night, queen of the night, night-blooming jessamine
In Hindi
तुलसी
रातरानी
In German
Basilikum
Nachtjasmin
In French
basilic
jasmin de nuit
In Spanish
albahaca
dama de noche
In Greek
βασιλικός
νύχτα γιασεμιά
In Portuguese
manjericão
jasmim-da-noite
In Polish
bazylia
noc kwitnący jaśmin
In Latin
ocimum
nox Aenean virent
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Lamiales
Solanales
Family
Lamiaceae
Solanaceae
Genus
Ocimum
Cestrum
Clade
Asterids
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
-
Number of Species
60200
1
27800
👆🏻