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Lamiaceae
Holy Basil
Ocimum tenuiflorum
Sacred devotion and spiritual protection.
- Family
- Lamiaceae
- Genus
- Ocimum
- Native to
- Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia
- Bloom season
- Summer, Fall
- Type
- herbaceous perennial
- Height
- 30–60 cm
- Sunlight
- full sun
- Soil
- fertile, well-drained
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- 10–12
- Lifespan
- perennial in tropics; grown as annual in temperate zones
Did you know
- Known as 'tulsi' in Hindi, it is considered the most sacred plant in Hinduism, an avatar of Lakshmi.
- Hindu households often grow tulsi in a special raised planter called a 'tulsi vrindavan' near the entrance.
- It contains eugenol, the same compound that gives cloves their distinctive aroma.
- Ayurvedic medicine classifies tulsi as a 'rasayana' — an herb that promotes longevity and wellbeing.
- There are three main cultivars: Rama (green leaves), Krishna (purple leaves), and Vana (wild forest type).
Color meanings
Purple
sacred devotion
White
spiritual purity