Not Traditional Basil: The Beautiful Herb With Flowers That'll Give You The Same Taste

There's no doubt that traditional basil is a garden favorite with herb and vegetable growers, who appreciate the spicy aroma in the yard as well as the flavor that basil leaves can add to so many dishes. If you adore the taste of basil but would love a little more variety in your garden, consider growing 'Cardinal' basil (Ocimum basilicum 'Cardinal'). It has the same tasty leaves with the added advantage of stunning dark red to purple flowers that you can actually cut for a vase. Just know that the best time to cut the flowers is early morning, before the plant wilts in the mid-day heat. Even so, 'Cardinal' is well suited to hot climates, and grows happily in USDA Zones 9 through 11.

You will find that 'Cardinal' basil can be referred to as an ornamental form because the flowers are hydrangea-like and quite decorative. Many people also say that the flowers are reminiscent of celosia. In fact, these blooms were part of a cut flower trial conducted by the North Carolina State Extension back in 2009. The trial concluded that the cut flowers had a strong basil fragrance and that the blooms were large, colorful, and would be well-suited to adding to bouquets. The plants themselves are quite bushy and have thicker leaves than other types of sweet basil. The purple stems add to the attraction of this cultivar. All this would suggest that 'Cardinal' basil is not only suitable for the herb garden, but it would do just as well in a flower bed. It would also look quite amazing as the "thriller" in a mixed container.

Like traditional basil, this cultivar is best grown from seed as an annual. It will thrive in full sun but can handle part shade. When sowing the seeds in the garden after all danger of frost has passed, space them around 12 inches apart, so that the plants will have plenty of room to spread once they're growing. Each one will reach a height of 1 to 2 feet, or up to 30 inches if you have a long growing season and you don't cut it back to harvest regularly. Although you want to pick traditional basil more often for a big harvest boost, you might like to let this cultivar grow a little more so that you get plenty of those gorgeous blooms. Both the leaves and flowers of 'Cardinal' basil can be eaten, and they have a slightly spicier, stronger flavor than more familiar basil types.

Thanks to its ornamental value, you could grow 'Cardinal' basil as a border plant along your perennial garden beds or next to a well-used path. They will fill the air with the spicy aroma every time you brush past the plants. Harvest the flowers early in the day and put them straight into water if you want to use them to brighten up your home with both color and fragrance. Just remember to keep up the moisture because basil doesn't like the soil to dry out. In fact, not keeping the plants well-hydrated is one of the mistakes everyone makes when growing basil, so keep that in mind if you want your plants nice and lush.