Basil Blue Spice

Basil Blue Spice isn't quite what you expect from a basil. Rub those small, bright green leaves and there's a wonderfully sweet, almost vanilla scent. As the plant matures, the stems darken and new leaves can take on a purpley tint. Then, if you let it flower, up come tall spikes of deep purple bracts and lilac blooms. It's easy to see why some people grow this one for its looks and scent as much as its leaves.

📏 Height up to 60cm in flower
🌿 Annual
❄️ Frost tender 

🍃 Seasonal Growing Guide

Spring SOW: from March onwards in pots or plug trays of moist seed compost, covering the seed very lightly. If you're sowing early, a little bottom heat will help get them going. Once seedlings are large enough to handle, pot them up and grow them on. Water early in the day to help reduce the risk of damping off. Plant outside after all danger of frost has passed, spacing about 20–25cm apart in a warm, sunny position.

Summer: pick leaves regularly to encourage plenty of fresh growth. Pinch out flower buds if you want to keep plants leafy for longer. Alternatively, let some flower and enjoy a very different side to Blue Spice.

Autumn: keep harvesting while the plants remain productive. As temperatures fall, plants growing in pots can be brought somewhere warm and bright to extend the season a little, but Blue Spice is frost tender and won't survive outside through winter.

🍴 Edible

There's a lot going on in the flavour. Alongside that familiar basil liquorice note you'll find sweetness, spice, lemon and a hint of vanilla.

Use the leaves anywhere you'd normally reach for sweet basil. They're particularly lovely with tomatoes, aubergines and courgettes, and work well with meat, fish and cheese too.

Pick regularly and use the leaves fresh, or dry some for later.

🐝 Pollinator friendly

If you can resist pinching out all the flower buds, Blue Spice puts on quite a show. The tall spikes of lilac flowers surrounded by deep purple bracts provide nectar for visiting pollinators, while giving you something rather lovely to look at too.

You could grow this basil for the leaves, the scent or the flowers. Fortunately, there's nothing to say you have to choose.