Healthy cinnamon basil plant with purple stems growing in a sunny garden

How to Grow Cinnamon Basil From Seed

By Maxim Kaufman — Founder & CEO, Organo Republic

Updated July 2026

Cinnamon basil brings a warm, spicy twist to the classic herb, with a true cinnamon fragrance layered over sweet basil. Its glossy green leaves, pretty purple stems, and purple flower spikes make it as ornamental as it is useful in the kitchen. Ready in about 65 days, it is easy to grow in a garden bed or a sunny container. Use the fresh leaves in teas, fruit salads, baked goods, and stir-fries where you want a gentle, spicy warmth.

This is the quick guide to Cinnamon. For the full step-by-step on starting seeds, sowing, feeding, and troubleshooting basil, see our complete guide to growing basil from seed.

Quick start

Start seeds indoors about 6 weeks before your last frost, sown a quarter inch deep in warm, moist mix at around 70F. Move plants outside only once nights stay above 50F, spacing them 8 to 12 inches apart in full sun. Keep the soil evenly moist and pinch the tips to keep the plant bushy. Begin harvesting leaves in about 65 days, and remove flower buds as they appear.

Best tip

Pinch cinnamon basil often and remove flower buds the moment they appear to keep the plant making tender, aromatic leaves. Climate matters most at the edges of the season: it is very cold-sensitive, so gardeners in the Northeast and Midwest should wait until nights stay above 50F before setting plants out, while growers in the Deep South, Texas, and Southern California get a long run and mainly need steady water and a little afternoon shade in the hottest weeks to slow bolting.

At a glance

Botanical nameOcimum basilicum 'Cinnamon'

Plant typeWarm-season annual herb

USDA zones2 to 11 (grown as a summer annual)

SunFull sun (6+ hours)

Days to maturityAbout 65 days

Height18 to 30 inches

SpacingThin to 8 to 12 inches

WaterRegular; keep evenly moist, never soggy

Uses

Cinnamon basil adds a warm, spicy-sweet note wherever you use it. Steep the fresh leaves into teas, toss them with fruit salads and stone fruit, and stir them into stir-fries and Southeast Asian dishes for a fragrant lift. It shines in baked goods, syrups, and infused drinks, and the purple-stemmed sprigs make a pretty garnish. Add it near the end of cooking to keep its cinnamon aroma bright.

Frequently asked questions

What does cinnamon basil taste like?

Cinnamon basil has a warm, spicy-sweet flavor with a distinct cinnamon note layered over classic basil. It is milder and more fragrant than a hot spice, which makes it a favorite for fruit salads, teas, baked goods, and stir-fries where you want that gentle warmth.

How long does cinnamon basil take to grow?

Cinnamon basil is ready to start harvesting in about 65 days from sowing. Seeds germinate in 5 to 10 days in warm, moist soil, and once plants are 6 to 8 inches tall and bushy you can begin pinching leaves regularly.

Why does cinnamon basil have purple stems?

The pretty purple stems and purple-tinged flower spikes are a natural, healthy trait of cinnamon basil, not a sign of stress. They make it an attractive, ornamental plant in the herb bed or a container, while the leaves stay green and full of that warm, spicy aroma.

How do I keep cinnamon basil producing tender leaves?

Pinch the growing tips often to keep the plant bushy, and remove flower buds as soon as they appear so the plant keeps making leaves instead of setting seed. Give it full sun and steady moisture, and harvest a little from the top regularly for the best flavor all summer.

Ready to grow your own? Start with a value set that includes basil, plus many more herbs and vegetables for a full, fragrant garden. For the full step-by-step, see our complete basil growing guide linked at the top of this page.

Cinnamon Basil SeedsHeirloom, non-GMOHeirloom Cinnamon Basil — warm, spicy-sweet leaves for teas, desserts, and stir-fries.

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Want more than cinnamon basil? These value sets pair basil with many more herbs and veggies:

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By Maxim Kaufman — Founder & CEO, Organo Republic

Maxim founded Organo Republic in 2017 and personally selects, tests, and grows the heirloom, non-GMO varieties the company offers. Under his leadership, Organo Republic was named Agri Business Review’s Top Non-GMO Seed Variety Solution 2026.