Nomenclature and Taxonomy
Most commercially available basils are cultivars of sweet basil. There are over 160 named cultivars available and more new ones every year. There are also a number of species sold. Here are some basils commonly sold in the USA.
For a more complete list, see List of basil cultivars
- African blue basil (Ocimum basilicum X O. kilimandscharicum)
- Anise basil or Persian basil (Licorice basil || O. basilicum 'Licorice'||)
- Camphor basil, African basil (O. kilimandscharicum)
- Cinnamon basil (Ocimum basilicum 'Cinnamon')
- Dark opal basil (Ocimum basilicum 'Dark Opal')
- Globe basil, dwarf basil, French basil (Ocimum basilicum 'Minimum')
- Hoary basil (Ocimum americanum formerly known as O. canum)
- Holy Basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum, formerly known a O. sanctum)
- Spice Basil (a cultivar of Ocimum americanum, which is sometimes sold as Holy Basil)
- Lemon basil (Ocimum americanum)
- Lettuce leaf basil (Ocimum basilicum 'Crispum')
- Purple basil (Ocimum basilicum 'Purpurescens')
- Queen of Siam basil (Ocimum basilicum citriodorum)
- Rubin basil (Ocimum basilicum 'Rubin')
Read more about this topic: Basil