skip to main content

Florida Gardening

Plant ID - Basil?

11 years ago

While selecting a small red okra hibiscus at the USF plant sale I noticed one pot had a "bonus" plant that was growing along with it. From my google search and the looks of the leaves, I'm thinking it is basil but am not positive. The flowers seem to be growing continuously up the stem and are not separate like some thai basil photos.

Sorry, cellphone photo.

Darren

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

katkin_gw
11 years ago
I have a Thai basil that looks like that.
carolb_w_fl_coastal_9b
11 years ago
The simplest ID is to crush a leaf & smell it - even tho there are different 'flavours' of basil, the scent is unmistakably aromatic & perfume-y.
RetiredFlorida
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks Katkin and Carol. You can tell I haven't had one of these before. I was introduced to this plant recently though. Oh yeah, the smell is powerful. Examining and re-poting this plant today, it looks much more like the photos I found in google.

Darren
slopfrog
11 years ago
Yeah, looks like Thai basil. The purple stems and purple flowers are the giveaway. It tastes a little more "spicy" too. Not a bad plant to get as a stowaway!
RetiredFlorida
Original Author
11 years ago
Sorry about that first photo, it was an after thought after an evening of watering the new plants. Here is a daylight shot. Just realizing how pretty a plant it is.

Darren

Related Stories

SUMMER GARDENING How to Grow Basil

By Marianne Lipanovich

Bright color, quick growth and endless uses for cooking make this summer annual a winner in the garden or a pot

FLOWERS AND PLANTS Help Monarchs and Other Butterflies by Planting Common Milkweed

By Pollination Press LLC

Summer-blooming Asclepias syriaca is an important larval host plant for the monarch butterfly and attracts a number of pollinating insects

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Gaura Lindheimeri

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Delicate, butterfly-shaped flowers ‘float’ above the foliage of this lovely, drought-tolerant perennial

FALL GARDENING Why Fall Is the Best Time for Planting

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Spring is overrated for planting. Starting plants in autumn has advantages for both garden and gardener

SPRING GARDENING Top 10 Scented Plants for Your Garden

By Carol Bucknell Garden Design

A palette of perfumed plants can transform even the smallest of gardens into a sensory delight

CONTAINER GARDENS 8 Easy Container Plants to Grow From Seed

Get beautiful blooms and herbs in summer by starting these choice garden picks from seed in spring

NATIVE PLANTS Plant These Fall-Flowering Natives in Early Summer for Pollinator Love

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

These 3 groups of plants will support masses of beneficial insects come autumn

NATIVE PLANTS Great Design Plant: Color Outside the Lines With Bluebell Bellflower

By Pollination Press LLC

Plant this Campanula on pathway and patio edges for shots of bright blue from May through September

GARDENING GUIDES Invite Mining Bees to Your Garden by Planting Their Favorite Plants

By Pollination Press LLC

Look for mining bees (Andrena) pollinating woodland wildflowers in U.S. gardens this spring

EDIBLE GARDENS Houzz Call: Where Are the Craziest Places You Grow Edibles?

By Annie Thornton

Basil in a bathtub, spinach stacked up a wall ... If your edibles occupy an odd spot, we’d like to know

Sponsored

More Discussions

Diagnosing problems with firespike in Sarasota

5

Rats in the garden ID?

6

Garden plans for 2024?

6

Greening Satsuma

2

New Blooms Feb./Mar.

26