In the landscape
Mass planting · Container · Small space · Edible
Data sources
Sweet Basil
Ocimum basilicum · Annual
Sweet Basil is grown as an annual, that matures to about 1.5–2 ft × 1.5–2 ft. It does best in full sun with medium water needs in well-drained and moist soil. Expect pink, purple and white blooms in summer. It stands up well to deer and rabbits and grows happily in containers.
- USDA zones
- 2-11
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Medium
- Mature size
- 1.5–2 ft × 1.5–2 ft
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- Well-drained, Moist
- Bloom color
- Pink, Purple, White
- Bloom season
- Summer
- Tough against
- Deer, Rabbits
- Native to
- Tropical Asia
Will it survive your winters?
We score Sweet Basil’s freeze-trouble range against the real coldest nights your area has recorded.
Powered by ~35 years of daily lows from the nearest NOAA weather station. A risk read, not a guarantee — a sheltered spot or mature plant beats the odds.
More plants for your zone: Zone 3 · Zone 4 · Zone 5 · Zone 6 · Zone 7 · Zone 8 · Zone 9 · Zone 10 · Zone 11
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