African blue basil

African blue basil
Hybrid parentageOcimum kilimandscharicum × Ocimum basilicum
Cultivar'Dark Opal'
OriginPeter Borchard, Companion Plants, Athens, Ohio, 1983[1]

African blue basil (Ocimum kilimandscharicum × basilicum 'Dark Opal') is a hybrid basil variety, a cross between camphor basil and dark opal basil. It is one of a few types of basil that are perennial. African blue basil plants are sterile, unable to produce seeds of their own, and can only be propagated by cuttings.[1]

This particular breed of basil has a strong camphor scent, inherited from Ocimum kilimandscharicum (camphor basil),[2] its East African parent.[1] The concentration of camphor is 22% (compared with 61% for O. kilimandscharicum). The concentration of the other major aroma compounds, linalool (55%), and 1,8-cineole (15%) is comparable to many basil cultivars.[3]

The camphor parent gives this basil a taste different from most basils, and it is fully edible.[4][5][6][7] It can be used in a fruit tea[8] or cocktail[9].

The leaves of African blue basil start out purple when young, only growing green as the given leaf grows to its full size, and even then retaining purple veins. Based on other purple basils, the color is from anthocyanins, especially cyanidin-3-(di-p-coumarylglucoside)-5-glucoside, but also other cyanidin-based and peonidin-based compounds.[3]

It blooms profusely like an annual, but being sterile can never go to seed. It is also taller than many basil cultivars. These blooms are very good at attracting bees and other pollinators.

  1. ^ a b c Pam Peirce, Special to The Chronicle (July 23, 2005). "PLANT OF THE WEEK: African blue basil; There's a new basil on the (foggy San Francisco) block". San Francisco Chronicle. pp. F–7.
  2. ^ "Ocimum kilimandscharicum". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 12 December 2017. Gives as its source Economic Botany 28:63 (1974).
  3. ^ a b J. Janick (ed.), James E. Simon, Mario R. Morales, Winthrop B. Phippen, Roberto Fontes Vieira, and Zhigang Hao, "Basil: A Source of Aroma Compounds and a Popular Culinary and Ornamental Herb", reprinted from: Perspectives on new crops and new uses (1999), ASHS Press, Alexandria, VA, ISBN 978-0-9615027-0-6.
  4. ^ "African Blue Basil". Sarvodaya Institute. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
  5. ^ "Ocimum kilimandscharicum x basilicum (African Blue Basil) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox". plants.ces.ncsu.edu. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
  6. ^ Natascha (2022-12-08). "African blue basil: care for perennial basils". Plantura. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
  7. ^ Mossati, Corinne (2020-12-03). "African Blue Basil Growing Guide". The Gourmantic Garden. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
  8. ^ "Botanical Beverages". Gardening Australia. 2021-05-21. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
  9. ^ Mossati, Corinne (2021-01-11). "Strawberry Daiquiri Slushie with African Blue Basil". Cocktails & Bars. Retrieved 2024-10-21.