Tulsi (Holy Basil) Seeds - Ocimum africanum
Grown in Williams, Oregon by Strictly Medicinal Seeds
This East African "Temperate Tulsi" has the shortest growing season and best frost tolerance of any holy basil variety, with small leaves, purple flowers, and an intense aroma. It even self-seeds season to season, which is rare for basil. A staple of Ayurvedic tradition, tulsi is prized for its calming, adaptogenic tea that is rich in essential oils like linalool, geraniol, and citral. Snip leaves and stems through the season for fresh or dried tea, or let some stalks flower and you'll have a pollinator magnet on your hands. Bees feast on its purple blooms for weeks, and it draws butterflies and other beneficial insects that support your whole garden ecosystem. As a bonus, its strong aroma tends to keep deer and rabbits away, too!
Product Description
- 50 organically certified seeds
- Annual or overwintering annual
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 2-9 (annual); and 10-11 (perennial)
- ~70 days to maturity
- Full sun (minimum 6 hours direct unfiltered light).
- Blooms summer through fall
How to grow it
Direct sow after last frost, or start indoors 6 weeks early at 70°F. Barely cover seeds (1/8") and keep evenly moist. Germination occurs in 7-14 days. Space plants 12-18" apart.