Plant · P-900

Clove Basil

Ocimum gratissimum

Clove Basil is an aromatic, much-branched perennial subshrub native to tropical Africa and Asia, woody at the base and growing 0.6 to 3 metres tall, most often found colonising open ground around villages and now naturalized across much of the tropical world. Its clove-scented leaves, rich in eugenol and other aromatic oils, are a widely used culinary condiment across West Africa and a traditional remedy for gastrointestinal, skin, wound and urinary infections, with laboratory studies confirming activity against several common bacteria. Its essential oil profile is listed as generally recognized as safe, though as with any strong aromatic extract dosage still matters, and its antimicrobial action can affect beneficial gut microflora as well as pathogens. It grows best in full sun on evenly moist, well-drained soil with a mildly acidic to neutral pH, and is winter hardy to about zone 8, tolerating brief lows near 10 F; further north it is grown as a warm-season annual or container plant.