I was only finding it interesting , This Kilimanjaro Basil , lives through to below Zero here This is near the end of February here in Zone 5 and I brought this inside to try for boosting the possibility of getting seeds , Has roots already that were growing on top of the garden earth , above the mulch . There are still plant sprouts outdoors but no seeds last year .
Tastes like lemon cleaner (absolutely terrible) but is pretty good in tea ,,

Lemon cleaner? But does it smell good? I did not know there was a perennial form. I rarely use Basil in cooking, but I like to have it in the yard because the aroma is so good when I water it.

lovemyhouse) Break the leaf or rub them they smell like Lemons
I only have a medium size and larger plant remaining , it is a 2012 planting
Purple Basil and lime Basil are perennial where you are also (suppose to be anyway ,, Several are , as this one , hardy to zone 7 I am on the edge of zone 5b - 6a and it has weathered well as you can see above ,, above 20 degrees and it starts growing roots laying on the ground ,
Not a vigorous plant here ,, But seems well enough

Thank you, Jim. I think I will have to try some Kilamanjaro and some Lime Basils. (Did I ever mention I was born in South Bend? )

Debra Today's age and times , South Bend -Mishahwaka Sister cities on the St. Johns River ,
I was born in Carbondale Illinois . SIU Territory ,, Most of my Family , Here and Dugger Indiana ,,
Got my work numbers at Mesquite Texas ,,
Round and Round we Go !!!

Some say Lime is invasive ,, Others say some of the Purples are a better choice ,, I don't know though ,, Cinnamon and Sweet all grow for me , This the only perennial Basil I have ever had this far North ,, I like the idea ,,
I forgot , several Thai Basil may be hardy for you , not here though

I've also never heard of a perennial basil. Must investigate......

Love that there are so many people from my old stomping grounds. Born/raised in Chicago; degree in Omaha; first job in Bloomington/Normal IL, then out to the Indianapolis area.

Back to regularly scheduled programming....

I love the flavored basils...lemon, lime, cinnamon, and thai. Purples are beautiful, but don't think flavor is outstanding. They do look pretty mixed in a salad, but cooking tends to turn everything else purple

Their are stories around, about a few A Native North American red Basil mint Rare plant) . The kilimanjaro Basil (medicinal herb) is not suppose to be perennial here ,(this I believe is )
It is looking like three or four strong runners outside ,(I've been peeking under the leaf mulch trying not to disturb anything )
It has a tightly wound early leaf pattern and very loose larger plant ,
I am hoping to share seeds or perhaps a few plants , I would like some to have this , Medicinal herb or unusual rare plant , it is ,,

Question on Thai Basil:
It has purple stems? as seedlings too?
I planted seeds which said they were Thai Basil, but they do not have purple stems?

I don't know about the seedlings, but mine have at least a part of the stem that is purple.

lovemyhouse These are perennial ? I recognize a couple as far as species


CarolineScott There are 37 Identified types of Thai Basil , Some are much different ,

Jim, no, those are annual. Was answering Caroline's question about purple stems on her Thai Basil.

lovemyhouse I hear there are two types of Basil , a Blue and a purple that are perennial in Texas
One Annual that surprised me is a sweet Basil Tender Annual here , but it is truly a perennial Tree Basil ,
Still growing in the Kitchen , The sweet tree Basil

and that is why I was asking ,

Most of the basils are theoretically perennial here, in that they love the winter weather. But I find they get leggy and woody, and the plants are pretty ugly by the second summer. Tree basil, as you said, Jim.

Since it starts so easily from cuttings, when the plants get too big and woody, I just start a bunch of cuttings and ditch the big plants. I have basil going in the garden all the time.

Thanks! I did not know there were so many varieties within Thai Basil.

@CarolineScott--my favorite Thai basil is still one of the oldest--Siam Queen. It is a beautiful plant--I often let it go to flower in our demonstration herb beds just because the flowers are so beautiful. I also think it is my favorite for flavor, and tends to be very hardy in our zone.