Basil thrives in warm and sunny climates, making it an easy choice for garden or container growing. The leaves are popular in cooking, and the flower buds are also edible. With ample sunlight, basil plants can grow quickly, becoming ready for pruning to encourage fuller growth within about six weeks.

Whether you’re growing it in your backyard, on a patio, or right on your kitchen windowsill, basil is easy to grow and endlessly useful. From starting seeds indoors to snipping the perfect leaves for your next meal, we’ll walk you through how to plant, grow, and harvest basil like a pro.

basil, (Ocimum basilicum), annual herb of the mint family (Lamiaceae), grown for its aromatic leaves. Basil is likely native to India and is widely grown as a kitchen herb. The leaves are used fresh or dried to flavor meats, fish, salads, and sauces; basil tea is a stimulant.

Basil[a] (Ocimum basilicum[b]), also called great basil, is a culinary herb of the family Lamiaceae (mints). It is a tender plant, and is used in cuisines worldwide.

The hardest thing about growing basil (Ocimum basilicum) is choosing which type to grow. Learn all about basil plant care in containers or in your garden.

Discover how to grow basil at home, from planting to harvest. Great for gardens, containers, and sunny windowsills.