Basil Seeds - Anise

Anise Basil Herb Garden Planting Seeds

Anise Basil Growing Habits

Non-GMO Anise Basil (Ocimum basilicum) plants grow 18" tall as compact bushes. Heirlooms such as Anise, blossom into late summer with steady growth, developing deep-purple stems and dark-green leaves. Your sweet basil crop will reach ideal harvesting as their leaves begin to produce a licorice scent, but before they bloom. This small-leaf sweet basil with verdant flavor will continue to provide a fresh clove-like aroma until the first frost arrives. By early fall, your Anise Basil will grow violet flowers and begin to seed.

In general, basil is an ultimate and ancient hybrid herb"making it a challenge for gardeners to pin down a single origin. Basil can be classified as either sweet or non-sweet. The popular types are referred to as sweet. For example, a cultivar that isn't in the sweet category would be clove basil, even though this Anise Basil variety produces clove-like flavor that is considered sweet.

Non-Culinary Uses for Anise Basil Herb Seed

Anise Basil has a licorice scent, along with clove. As this type of sweet basil is often grown for its color as an ornamental garden, it's variety of flavor Anise provides, also makes this an ideal herb to help aid nausea. As a medicinal remedy, the dark-green leaves of Anise Basil can be eaten fresh or steeped in warm water for its aromatic benefits.

Culinary Uses for Anise Basil Herb Seed

This basil originated from Southeast Asia and regions in Africa. As a diverse herb, Anise Basil can compliment savory foods such as Thai curries or sweet recipes, like fresh fruit, feta and basil salads. Anise Basil is an ideal ingredient to add its clove sweetness to a variety of dishes. This licorice-scented basil is also cooked for its verdant flavor, as Anise varieties are known to provide a stronger flavor than their Sweet Basil relative. Anise basil also makes a fresh and popular tea to help aid respiratory issues by steeping the dark-green leaves in hot water.

Benefits of Anise Herb Seed

Anise Basil blooms small purple flowers, giving off licorice scents that help repel insects such as mosquitoes during the summer. As this herb steadily grows up to 18" tall, this sweet basil variety is most often grown as an ornamental garden bed or as a great companion to tomatoes, providing more nutrition and flavor to your other vegetables and herbs.