For pesto and familiar Italian cooking, start with Genovese or another broad-leaf sweet basil. Choose Thai basil for anise-like notes, lemon or lime basil for citrus aroma, purple cultivars for colorful foliage, and compact bush types where space is tight. Holy basil, also called tulsi, is a distinct type with its own culinary and cultural associations. The 17 choices below are a mix of types and named cultivars—not 17 separate species—and their differences in leaf shape, color, flavor, and habit can help you match a plant to your garden and kitchen.
How these 17 basil types differ
Basil names can refer to broad types, common names, or named cultivars. They are not all the same botanical rank. All are edible, but their plant size, leaf shape, color, and flavor make them suitable for different purposes, as UMass Amherst Extension explains.
- Flavor: Sweet basils suit pesto and familiar Italian dishes; Thai basils have anise-like character; lemon and lime selections add citrus notes. Holy basil is distinct from Thai basil.
- Form and space: Broad-leaf sweet types contrast with compact bush or globe forms that can fit smaller spaces.
- Color: Purple cultivars bring dark foliage to the garden as well as culinary use; Illinois Extension notes that purple basil can also be used to make vinegar.
- Disease: Resistance depends on the particular cultivar. It should not be assumed for every member of a flavor or color group.
17 types and cultivars to consider
Sweet basils for pesto and everyday cooking
- Genovese. A classic large-leaf sweet basil for pesto and Italian cooking. Genovese is a familiar choice, but Iowa State Extension notes its susceptibility to basil downy mildew, so don’t treat the name as a disease-resistance guarantee.
- Italian Large Leaf. A broad-leaf sweet basil type suited to pesto and other recipes that benefit from generous leaves.
- Nufar. A sweet, pesto-oriented cultivar that UMass lists as Fusarium-resistant. That designation applies to this named cultivar, not to sweet basil generally.
- Aroma 2. Another sweet, pesto-oriented cultivar listed by UMass as Fusarium-resistant; as with Nufar, do not extend that trait to other cultivars.
Thai basils for anise-like flavor
- Sweet Thai. A Thai basil type. Thai basils are known for aniseed- or licorice-like aroma, a flavor profile distinct from classic sweet basil.
- Siam Queen. A named Thai basil cultivar listed by UMass and NC State Extension.
- Thai Magic. A Thai cultivar named in the UMass basil list. Choose it when you want to explore Thai basil rather than a standard pesto type.
Purple basils for foliage color and cooking
- Dark Opal. A purple-leaved selection with ornamental appeal and culinary use.
- Purple Ruffles. A named purple cultivar listed by UMass and NC State.
- Osmin Purple. A purple basil cultivar listed by UMass; its place in this group makes it an option for adding dark foliage alongside edible leaves.
- Magical Michael. A purple basil cultivar named in the UMass list.
- Red Rubin. A purple basil cultivar named in the UMass list, suitable for gardeners seeking colored foliage as well as a culinary herb.
Compact bush basils for smaller spaces
- Spicy Globe. A compact globe or bush type listed by UMass and NC State. Its small, rounded habit makes it a useful candidate where a larger sweet basil would take up too much room.
- Spicy Bush. A bush basil type listed by UMass, offering another compact-form option.
Citrus-scented and distinct basils
- Sweet Dani. A lemon-scented selection listed by UMass and NC State. Choose it when you want a citrus note rather than the classic sweet-basil profile.
- Lime basil. A scented basil type listed by UMass and NC State for gardeners who want lime-like citrus character.
- Holy basil (tulsi). A distinct basil type, not another name for Thai basil. Iowa State identifies its religious significance in Hinduism; it also has its own culinary tradition. University of Arizona Cooperative Extension also lists holy basil among herb choices.
Choose by the job you want basil to do
| Garden or kitchen goal | Types to consider | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Pesto and familiar Italian cooking | Genovese, Italian Large Leaf, Nufar, Aroma 2 | Sweet-basil profiles; the first two are broad-leaf types, while Nufar and Aroma 2 are cultivars UMass lists as Fusarium-resistant. |
| Anise-like flavor | Sweet Thai, Siam Queen, Thai Magic | Thai basil character, distinct from standard sweet basil. |
| Dark foliage | Dark Opal, Purple Ruffles, Osmin Purple, Magical Michael, Red Rubin | Purple-leaved selections that combine ornamental color with culinary use. |
| Compact habit | Spicy Globe, Spicy Bush | Bush or globe forms for tighter spaces than larger sweet-basil plants. |
| Citrus aroma | Sweet Dani, Lime basil | Lemon- or lime-scented options rather than classic sweet basil. |
| A separate type and tradition | Holy basil (tulsi) | Distinct from Thai basil and associated with a separate culinary and cultural role. |
This is a practical comparison, not a ranking: the sources do not establish a single trial comparing all 17 for yield, flavor, or overall performance. NC State lists some downy mildew-resistant basil cultivars, but resistance belongs to the named cultivar rather than to every plant in its broader group.
How to grow basil successfully
Wait for warm weather
Basil is sensitive to cold. Start seeds indoors or use transplants, then move plants outside after frost danger has passed and the soil is warm. UMass recommends transplanting plants when they are about six inches tall and four to six weeks old; use those as plant-readiness guides, not as a universal calendar, because local conditions differ.
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Give plants sun, moisture, and well-drained soil
UMass lists a soil pH range of 6.0–7.5, well-drained soil, and adequate moisture during the growing season. Illinois Extension recommends a sunny location and fertile soil.
Encourage leafy growth
Pinch growing tips to encourage branching. If your goal is continued leafy growth, remove flower buds as they appear, following Illinois Extension’s guidance.
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Choose seed carefully
Growing from seed gives access to the widest range of varieties, according to the Royal Horticultural Society. UMass cautions that basil seed is not always true to type, so buy reputable, clearly labeled seed and do not assume every seedling will be identical to the named plant.
Quick Recap
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