How to Grow Holy Basil From Seed

What is holy basil (tulsi) used for?

Holy basil, also called tulsi, is prized for its aromatic, clove-scented leaves. It is traditionally brewed into a fragrant herbal tea and used to flavor cooking, and it is a well-loved plant in the herb and pollinator garden. Its flowers draw in bees and butterflies through late summer.

How is holy basil different from regular basil?

Holy basil has a warm, clove-like, slightly peppery aroma rather than the sweet flavor of Genovese basil, and its leaves are often a bit fuzzy with tall purple-green flower spikes. It is grown more for tea and fragrance than for pesto, and it tends to be a little more heat-tolerant.

How long does holy basil take to grow?

Holy basil is ready to begin harvesting in about 70 days from sowing. Like other basils it germinates in 5 to 10 days in warm, moist soil, and once plants are bushy you can pick leaves regularly for tea and cooking.

Should I let holy basil flower?

It depends on your goal. If you want the most tender leaves for tea and cooking, pinch off the flower spikes to keep the plant producing foliage. If you want to support pollinators, let some plants bloom, since the flowers are very attractive to bees and butterflies late in the season.