Usually available: August to March

Life cycle: Annual
Height: 40cm
Position: Full sun
Soil preference: Well drained

This is how we pack and send your Herb Plants to all states except TAS & WA

You will receive
- 1 Lime Basil Herb Plant in a 50 X 75mm tube - General growing instructions

All of our Herb Plants are grown organically with certified organic potting mixes and fertilizers

Botanical Name: Ocimum americanum

Lime basil has a pungent, citrus fragrance with a zesty lime taste and fragrance. This adds a slight citrus flavour to foods when it is used in cooking. Lime basil can be used interchangeably with other basils in recipes. It is particularly delicious in salads, fish, chicken, and salsa dishes.

The lime basil plant is a compact herbaceous annual which is more heat tolerant than sweet basil. Its appearance is mound like and it grows from 30 cm to 1meter tall in it natural environment. The leaves are smooth and elliptical with the white-lavender flowers being held as a long inflorescence.

It is widely cultivated in tropical Africa and Asia and grows wild in these areas. Although its exact origin is unknown it grows naturally in teak forests, fields and road verges. Lime basil is also called ‘hairy’ or ‘hoary’ basil. It is often planted in rice paddy fields and grows well in reasonably high altitudes and low in the plains.

All basils have many essential oils in their leaves. However, the distinctive flavour is due to each having a slightly different composition of essential oils. Lime and lemon basil receive their citrus scent from the higher percentage of citral and limonene present in the leaves.

Each basil variety has distinctive features, however, the general properties and growing conditions are very similar and details can be found in our Basil entry.

All information provided on this website is for informational purposes only. Please seek professional advice before commencing any treatment.