List of basil cultivars

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Basil cultivars are cultivated varieties of basil. They are used in a variety of ways: as culinary herbs, landscape plants, healing herbs, teas, and worship implements. All true basils are species of the genus Ocimum . The genus is particularly diverse, and includes annuals, non-woody perennials and shrubs native to Africa and other tropical and subtropical regions of the Old and New World. [1] Although it is estimated that there are 50 to 150 species of basil, [2] [3] most, but not all, culinary basils are cultivars of O. basilicum, or sweet basil. Some are cultivars of other basil species, and others are hybrids. It is particularly challenging to determine which species a basil belongs to. This is because basil cross-breeds easily, and drawing boundaries between species is particularly difficult. In fact, recent studies have led to reclassification of some portions of the genus. [4]

Contents

Basil cultivars vary in several ways. Visually, the size and shape of the leaves varies greatly, from the large lettuce-like leaves of the Mammoth basil and Lettuce leaf basil to the tiny leaves of the Dwarf bush basil. More practically, the fragrance of the basil varies due to the varying types and quantities of essential oils contained in the plants. The most important are 1,8 cineol, linalool, citral, methyl chavicol (estragole), eugenol and methyl cinnamate, although hardly any basil contains all of these in any significant amount. [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13]

Basil cultivars

Holy basil Ocimum tenuiflorum2.jpg
Holy basil
Sweet basil growing in the sun Basil-PWittal.JPG
Sweet basil growing in the sun
Late summer Thai basil flowers Thai basil flower.jpg
Late summer Thai basil flowers
Harvested sweet basil leaves Basil leaves.jpg
Harvested sweet basil leaves
Greek Bush Basil Bush basil AKA manjerico.jpg
Greek Bush Basil
Ocimum basilicum cultivars
Common nameSpecies and cultivarsDescription
Sweet basil, Genovese basil, great basilO. basilicumWith a strong clove scent when fresh. [14]
Lettuce leaf basil O. basilicum 'Lettuce Leaf'Has leaves so large they are sometimes used in salads. [15]
Mammoth basil O. basilicum 'Mammoth'Another large-leaf variety, stronger flavor than sweet Genovese. [16]
Genovese basil O. basilicum 'Genovese Gigante'Almost as popular as sweet basil, with similar flavor. [16] [17] [18] [19]
Nufar basil O. basilicum 'Nufar F1'Variety of Genovese resistant to fusarium wilt.
Spicy globe basil O. basilicum 'Spicy Globe'Grows in a bush form, very small leaves, strong flavor. [20]
Greek Yevani basil O. basilicum 'Greek Yevani'Organically grown version of Spicy globe basil.
Fino verde basil O. basilicum piccoloSmall, narrow leaves, sweeter, less pungent smell than larger leaved varieties. [21]
Boxwood basil O. basilicum 'Boxwood'Grows tightly like boxwood, very small leaves, strong flavor, great for pestos.
Purple ruffles basil O. basilicum 'Purple Ruffles'Solid purple, rich and spicy and a little more anise-like than the flavor of Genovese Basil.
Magical Michael O. basilicum 'Magical Michael'Award-winning hybrid with an uncommon degree of uniformity, and nice flavor for culinary use. [22]
Dark opal basil O. basilicum 'Purpurascens'Award-winning variety, developed at the University of Connecticut in the 1950s. [23]
Red rubin basil O. basilicum 'Purpurascens' 'Red Rubin'Strong magenta color, similar flavor to sweet basil, also called Opal basil. [16]
Osmin purple basil O. basilicum 'Osmin Purple'Dark shiny purple with a jagged edge on the leaves, smaller leaves than red rubin. [24]
Cuban basil O. basilicumSimilar to sweet basil, with smaller leaves and stronger flavor, grown from cuttings. [25]
Thai basil O. basilicum var. thyrsiflorumCalled Ho-ra-pa (โหระพา) in Thai, gets its scent of licorice from estragole. [5]
'Siam Queen'O. basilicum var. thyrsiflorum 'Siam Queen' [26] A named cultivar of Thai Basil
Cinnamon basil O. basilicum 'Cinnamon'Also called Mexican spice basil, with a strong scent of cinnamate, the same chemical as in cinnamon. Has purple flowers. [5]
Licorice basil O. basilicum 'Licorice'Also known as Anise basil or Persian basil, silvery leaves, spicy licorice smell comes from the same chemical as in anise, anethole. Thai basil is also sometimes called Licorice basil. [27]
White basil O. basilicum var. pilosumWhite and hairy branches/leaves and white flowers. Aromatic lemon scent. Called é in Vietnamese.
Mrs. Burns' Lemon O. basilicum var. citriodora 'Mrs. Burns' Lemon'Clean, aromatic lemon scent, similar to lemon basil. [26]
Ocimum americanum (formerly known as O. canum) cultivars
Common nameSpecies and cultivarsDescription
Lemon basil O. americanum [26] Contains citral and limonene, therefore actually does smell very lemony, tastes sweeter. Originally, and sometimes still, called "hoary basil". Popular in Indonesia, where it is known as 'kemangi'. Also sometimes 'Indonesian basil'.
Lime basil O. americanumSimilar to lemon basil. [24]
Ocimum ×citriodorum cultivars
Common nameSpecies and cultivarsDescription
Greek column basil O. ×citriodorum 'Lesbos'Columnar basil, can only be propagated from cuttings. [28]
Thai lemon basil O. ×citriodorumCalled mangluk (แมงลัก) in Thai. It has a citrus odor, with a distinct Lemon-balm-like flavor [5]
Other species and hybrids
Common nameSpecies and cultivarsDescription
Holy basil O. sanctum
(alt. O. tenuiflorum)		Also sacred basil, Tulsi (तुलसी) in Hindi, a perennial breed from India, used in Ayurveda, for worship, and in Thai cooking. [5] Called kaphrao (กะเพรา) in Thai.
Clove Basil O. gratissimum
Greek basil (Greek spicy globe Basil)O. minimum
(alt. O. basilicum var. minimum)		Forms a nearly perfectly round globe, with thin, tiny leaves and a delicious scent. Despite its name, the variety probably originated in Chile. [29] [30]
Dwarf bush basil O. minimumUnusually small bush variety, similar to Greek bush basil. [14]
African blue basil O. kilimandscharicum × basilicumA sterile perennial hybrid, with purple coloration on its leaves and containing a strong portion of actual camphor in its scent. [5]
Spice basilO. basilicum × americanumA fruity/musky-scented cultivar sometimes sold as Holy Basil
Sweet Dani basil O. basilicum × americanumA vigorous, large-leaved green basil with a strong, fresh lemon scent, [31] a 1998 All-American Selection. [32]
Camphor basil O. kilimandscharicum

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Basil</span> Important culinary herb

Basil, also called great basil, is a culinary herb of the family Lamiaceae (mints). It is a tender plant, and is used in cuisines worldwide. In Western cuisine, the generic term "basil" refers to the variety also known as sweet basil or Genovese basil. Basil is native to tropical regions from Central Africa to Southeast Asia. In temperate climates basil is treated as an annual plant, however, basil can be grown as a short-lived perennial or biennial in warmer horticultural zones with tropical or Mediterranean climates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Linalool</span> Chemical compound with a floral aroma

Linalool refers to two enantiomers of a naturally occurring terpene alcohol found in many flowers and spice plants. Linalool has multiple commercial applications, the majority of which are based on its pleasant scent. A colorless oil, linalool is classified as an acyclic monoterpenoid. In plants, it is a metabolite, a volatile oil component, an antimicrobial agent, and an aroma compound. Linalool has uses in manufacturing of soaps, fragrances, food additives as flavors, household products, and insecticides.

<i>Ocimum</i> Genus of flowering plants

Ocimum is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of basil and the name is from the Ancient Greek word for basil, ὤκιμον. Its best known species are the cooking herb great basil, O. basilicum, and the medicinal herb tulsi, O. tenuiflorum.

<i>Ocimum tenuiflorum</i> Holy basil

Ocimum tenuiflorum [or Ocimum sanctum L.], commonly known as holy basil, tulsi or tulasi, is an aromatic perennial plant in the family Lamiaceae. It is native to the Indian subcontinent and widespread as a cultivated plant throughout the Southeast Asian tropics.

Thai basil

Thai basil called káu-chàn-thah in Taiwan, is a type of basil native to Southeast Asia that has been cultivated to provide distinctive traits. Widely used throughout Southeast Asia, its flavor, described as anise- and licorice-like and slightly spicy, is more stable under high or extended cooking temperatures than that of sweet basil. Thai basil has small, narrow leaves, purple stems, and pink-purple flowers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lemon basil</span> Species of plant

Lemon basil, hoary basil, Thai lemon basil, or Lao basil, is a hybrid between basil and American basil. The herb is grown primarily in northeastern Africa and southern Asia for its fragrant lemon scent, and is used in cooking.

<i>Pelargonium graveolens</i> Species of plant

Pelargonium graveolens is a Pelargonium species native to the Cape Provinces and the Northern Provinces of South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

Genovese basil

Genovese basil is a cultivar of Ocimum basilicum. It is one of the most popular basils for culinary use, particularly for its use in pesto, the traditional Genoese sauce. The name "Basilico Genovese" is protected by the European Union with the Denominazione di Origine Protetta certification. Genoese basil is produced in the provinces of Genoa, Savona and Imperia.

Spicy globe basil is a cultivar of Ocimum basilicum. Unlike some better known basils, it grows in the form of a tidy, compact bush, more suitable for gardens and small pots than most varieties. The small, densely growing leaves are used in the same way as the leaves of other sweet basil varieties.

Cinnamon basil

Cinnamon basil is a type of basil. The term "cinnamon basil" can refer to a number of different varieties of basil, including as a synonym for Thai basil, as a particular cultivar of Thai basil, and as a separate cultivar in its own right. This article discusses the latter type.

Mrs. Burns' Lemon basil is an heirloom cultivar of sweet basil from New Mexico in the United States. Compared to lemon basil, which is a different species of basil, in Mrs. Burns lemon basil the lemon flavor is more intense, the leaves are larger, and the plant itself is more robust.

Nufar basil

Nufar basil is the first variety of sweet basil that is resistant to fusarium wilt. Fusarium wilt is a disease that causes sudden wilting and death in multiple species, including basil. It is caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. basilicum, which attacks the xylem in the stem, blocking water uptake and leading to a characteristic sudden leaf wilt that does not respond to watering. Nufar basil is resistant to fusarium wilt, remaining asymptomatic even when infected. It was released in 1999 in Israel by the breeders of the Agricultural Research Organization, and commercialized by Genesis Seeds.

Magical Michael basil is a cultivar of Ocimum basilicum. The plants reliably grow to 15 inches tall and 16–17 inches wide. This degree of uniformity is unusual in basil varieties. The flowers of the plant are also unusual, with purple calyxes and white corollas. The flavor is similar to sweet basil. Magical Michael is a past winner of the All-American Selection award.

Mammoth basil is a lettuce leaf basil variety, originating from Italy. Like many culinary basils, it is a cultivar of Ocimum basilicum. The plant grows to approximately 18 inches tall, and produces large ruffled leaves with a jagged edge. The flavor is similar to, but stronger than the flavor of Genovese basil. The leaves are used in pesto or whole, in salads.

Red rubin basil

Red rubin basil is an improved variety of Dark opal basil. Like many culinary basils, it is a cultivar of Ocimum basilicum. This basil variety has unusual reddish-purple leaves, and a stronger flavour than sweet basil, making it most appealing for salads and garnishes. It is a fast-growing annual herb that reaches a height of approximately 70 cm (2.3 ft).

Osmin purple basil is a cultivar of Ocimum basilicum with dark purple leaves. It is distinguished from other purple basil varieties by smaller, darker leaves. It has the darkest leaves of any purple basil variety. The plant averages a height of 50 centimetres (20 in) and is grown in sunny or partially sunny environments.

Methyl cinnamate Chemical compound

Methyl cinnamate is the methyl ester of cinnamic acid and is a white or transparent solid with a strong, aromatic odor. It is found naturally in a variety of plants, including in fruits, like strawberry, and some culinary spices, such as Sichuan pepper and some varieties of basil. Eucalyptus olida has the highest known concentrations of methyl cinnamate (98%) with a 2–6% fresh weight yield in the leaf and twigs.

<i>Ocimum americanum</i> Species of flowering plant

Ocimum americanum, known as American basil, lime basil, or hoary basil, is a species of annual herb in the family Lamiaceae. Despite the misleading name, it is native to Africa, the Indian Subcontinent, China, and Southeast Asia. The species is naturalized in Queensland, Christmas Island, and parts of tropical America.

<i>Ocimum basilicum <span style="font-style:normal;">var.</span> minimum</i> Variety of basil

Greek basil is a flowering herb and cultivar of basil.

References

  1. ↑ "Basil: An Herb Society of America Guide". Herb Society of America. Archived from the original on 2006-12-08. Retrieved 2006-12-30.
  2. ↑ Simon, J.E., J. Quinn, and R.G. Murray (1990). "Basil: A source of essential oils". In J. Janick; J.E. Simon (eds.). Advances in new crops. Timber Press, Portland, OR. pp. 484–489.{{cite conference}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ↑ The Herb Garden, in the United States National Arboretum, showcases some 25 varieties of basil every year. The Herb Garden was a gift to the United States from the Herb Society of America.
  4. ↑ Paton, Alan, R.M. Harley and M.M. Harley (1999). "Ocimum: an overview of classification and relationships". In Raimo Hiltunen; Yvonne Holm (eds.). Basil: the genus Ocimum. Australia: Harwood Academic Publishers. ISBN   9780203303771.{{cite conference}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Gernot Katzer. "Basil". Spice Pages. Retrieved 2012-12-03.
  6. ↑ https://www.allrecipes.com/article/thai-basil-vs-basil/
  7. ↑ https://passthepistil.com/6-basil-varieties-to-grow-love-how-to-grow/
  8. ↑ https://www.thai-food-online.co.uk/blogs/thai-food-online-blog/thai-sweet-basil-vs-basil
  9. ↑ https://www.messyvegancook.com/thai-herbs-lemon-basil-holy-basil-thai-basil/amp/
  10. ↑ https://www.spiceography.com/thai-basil-vs-holy-basil/
  11. ↑ https://www.pinterest.com/pin/261208847113952718/
  12. ↑ https://www.theculinarycompass.com/thai-basil-vs-basil/
  13. ↑ https://www.bonappetit.com/story/what-is-thai-basil/amp
  14. 1 2 Diane Relf (August 1997). "Basils for the Home Garden". Virginia Cooperative Extension. Archived from the original on 2006-12-05. Retrieved 2006-12-31.
  15. ↑ "Lettuce Leaf Basil". Observations. The Tucson Gardener. Archived from the original on 2010-01-08. Retrieved 2006-12-31.
  16. 1 2 3 "Basil growing: sweet basil". The Tasteful Garden. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved 2006-12-31.
  17. ↑ Miele, Mariangela; Dondero, R; Ciarallo, G; Mazzei, M; et al. (2001). "Methyleugenol in Ocimum basilicum L. Cv. 'Genovese Gigante'". Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 49 (1): 517–521. doi:10.1021/jf000865w. PMID   11170620.
  18. ↑ Copetta, Andrea; Lingua, G; Berta, G; et al. (2006). "Effects of three AM fungi on growth, distribution of glandular hairs, and essential oil production in Ocimum basilicum L. var. Genovese". Mycorrhiza . 16 (7): 485–494. doi:10.1007/s00572-006-0065-6. PMID   16896796.
  19. ↑ Copetta, A.; et al. (30 November 2006). Three arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi differently affect growth, distribution of glandular trichomes and essential oil composition in Ocimum basilicum var. genovese. Vol. 723. ISHS Acta Horticulturae. ISBN   978-90-6605-669-5 . Retrieved 3 July 2009.
  20. ↑ "Spicy Globe Basil". iVillage. Archived from the original on 2007-05-19. Retrieved 2006-12-31.
  21. ↑ Deborah Wechsler. "Bountiful Basil". National Gardening Association. Retrieved 2006-12-31.
  22. ↑ "Basil "Magical Michael"". All-American Selections. Colorado State University Denver County Cooperative Extension. Archived from the original on 2006-09-12. Retrieved 2006-12-31.
  23. ↑ "Herbs". Galaxy Gardens. Archived from the original on 2006-11-24. Retrieved 2007-01-05.
  24. 1 2 "Basil". Pete's Herbs. Archived from the original on 2007-01-21. Retrieved 2006-12-31.
  25. ↑ Pino, J; Rosado, A; Goire, I; Roncal, E; Garcia, I (1993). "Analysis of the essential oil from cuban basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)". Nahrung. 37 (5): 501–504. doi:10.1002/food.19930370515.
  26. 1 2 3 "Basil-icious!". United States National Herb Garden. Archived from the original on 2007-03-23. Retrieved 2006-12-30.
  27. ↑ "Ocimum basilicum (Anise basil)". Backyard Gardener. Archived from the original on 2007-02-25. Retrieved 2006-12-31.
  28. ↑ "Basil" (PDF). An Herb Society of America Fact Sheet. Herb Society of America. 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-12-28. Retrieved 2006-12-31.
  29. ↑ "Basil, Greek or Bush Basil". Chiltern Seeds. Retrieved 2006-12-31.
  30. ↑ "Ocimum minimum information from NPGS/GRIN". www.ars-grin.gov. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  31. ↑ Thomas DeBaggio (April–May 1998). "Sweet Dani Basil". Herb Companion. Retrieved 2011-06-19.
  32. ↑ "AAS Winners 1933 to Present". All-American Selections. Archived from the original on 2010-02-04. Retrieved 2011-06-19.

General references

  • Madalene Hill & Gwen Barclay (2003). "Basil for the Gardener's Kitchen: Herb of the Year, 2003". The Herbarist. 69: 43.
  • Helen H. Darrah (1980). The cultivated basils. T. E. Thomas, Buckeye Printing Co. ASIN B0006E2MDS.

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