Perennial basil species from Africa (Ocimum kilimandscharicum) and Asia (Ocimum canum) have recently been introduced to the European herb and gardening market. These species has a strong, but less pleasant flavour; hybrids between them and Mediterranean basil are a recent innovation, with novel appearance and flavour, and enjoy growing popularity.
The African species, O. kilimandscharicum (often known as “camphor basil”), is characterized by much camphor besides 1,8 cineol; camphor is also found, albeit in lesser quantities, in kilimandscharicum hybrids with O. basilicum (e. g., African Blue).
60 (100)cm, Kilimanjaro Basil is a quite tall, woody, semiperennial species from Rwanda, Africa. Makes long flowers spikes with small white to pale pink flowers and oval, pubescent leaves with a strong camphor fragrance.