Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Herbs
Origin
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, South-Central United States
-
Types
Cherry laurel, California Bay Laurel, Spotted laurel
Ocimum americanum
Number of Varieties
320
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Tropical regions
-
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-99-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9-6
12-1
Sunset Zone
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
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
Oval or Rounded
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
460.00 cm30.50 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
300.00 cm30.50 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Ivory
White
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Orange Red
Tan
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green, Blue Green, Silver
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green, Blue Green, Silver
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Yellow green, Tan, Silver
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Yellow green, Tan
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Oval
Oval
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Wet Site
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Grafting, Stem Planting
Cuttings, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Do Not over Water, occasional watering once established
Allow soil to be completely dry in between waterings, Do Not over Water, Requires regular watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune for shortening long shoots, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
fertilize in growing season
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Beetles, Fusarium wilt, Rust, Scab
Downy mildew, Dry root rot, Fusarium wilt, Gray mold, Japanese Beetles
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shade areas
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Showy
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
Coarse
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies
Aphids, Beetles, Leaf Hoppers, Nematodes
Allergy
allergic conjunctivitis, Nausea, wheezing
Hives, Itchiness, Rash, Swelling
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Borders, Used for decorating walls, fences, gates, hedges, etc.
Beauty Benefits
For treating wrinkles, Hair Conditioner, Making cosmetics
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Indoor Air Purification, Insect Repellent
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Acne, Cancer, Diarrhea, Emollient, Migraines, Oral health, treating poison ivy
Low calories, Manganese, Potassium, ß-carotene, Vitamin A, Vitamin K
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaf Stalks, Stem
Leaf Stalks, Leaves
Other Uses
Cosmetics, Culinary use, Florist trade and landscaping, Making Perfumes, Oil is used in perfume, soaps, creams, etc., Used as Ornamental plant
Added to salads, Powdered and mixed with tea, Used in tea, wine and sweet dishes, Used to flavour soups
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Foundation, Shade Trees
Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable, Mixed Border
Botanical Name
Laurus nobilis
OCIMUM x citriodorum
Common Name
Sweetbay
Lemon Basil
In Hindi
Laurus nobilis
नींबू तुलसी
In German
Echter Lorbeer
Limonenbasilikum
In French
Laurus nobilis
citron basilic
In Spanish
Laurus nobilis
Ocimum × citriodorum
In Greek
Laurus nobilis
λεμόνι βασιλικός
In Portuguese
Loureiro
manjericão limão
In Polish
Wawrzyn szlachetny
Bazylia cytrynowa
In Latin
Laurus nobilis
lemon Basilius
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Laurales
Lamiales
Family
Magnoliaceae
Lamiaceae
Genus
Laurus
Ocimum
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Asterids
Tribe
Epidendreae
-
Subfamily
Epidendroideae
-
Number of Species
3169
1
27800
👆🏻