How to Grow Boxwood Basil (Ocimum basilicum)

Boxwood Basil Care When temperatures have warmed enough to move the basil outside, select a site with full sun and well-draining soil. Keep the basil damp but not sodden; give it about an inch (2.5 cm.) of water each week depending upon weather conditions.

How do you plant Boxwood Basil?
Is Boxwood Basil a perennial or annual?
Can you grow Boxwood basil indoors?
Does Boxwood basil taste like regular basil?
What can I make with Boxwood Basil?
How do you care for Boxwood Basil?
Is Boxwood Basil good for pesto?
Can you propagate Boxwood Basil?
What is the difference between sweet basil and Genovese basil?
How do you dry Boxwood Basil?
What does lettuce leaf basil taste like?
Are boxwoods edible?

How do you plant Boxwood Basil?

Boxwood Basil

Type warm-season annual.
Planting time after last frost in spring.
Features aromatic leaves with classic basil flavor.
Light full sun to part shade.
Soil fertile, moist, but well drained.
Spacing 12 inches.
Plant Size12 to 16 inches tall and up to 12 inches wide.

Is Boxwood Basil a perennial or annual?

"Boxwood" Profile

Like other basils, it survives as a perennial in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 9 to 11. Anywhere else, it must be replanted annually. Its leaves are tinier than those of other sweet basils, and the plant has a rounded, upright structure.

Can you grow Boxwood basil indoors?

"Boxwood" basil grows well in containers. Indoors, give the plant its own pot. A windowsill may work for a time, but unless it's broad, fast-growing "Boxwood" will quickly outgrow the spot.

Does Boxwood basil taste like regular basil?

The leaves of the boxwood basil are smaller and more delicate, but they pack the same flavor and aroma of traditional basil. It's the best of both worlds. This plant grows quickly in warm weather, and you should harvest and preserve your basil before the first winter frost.

What can I make with Boxwood Basil?

Virtues: A compact, neat-as-a-pin habit and tiny leaves make this basil resemble a boxwood. A highly ornamental herb with great fragrance and flavor. Cute in a pot or planted as a very low hedge around vegetable or flower beds. Use the leaves in pasta dishes, soups and pesto.

How do you care for Boxwood Basil?

Boxwood Basil Care

Keep the basil damp but not sodden; give it about an inch (2.5 cm.) of water each week depending upon weather conditions. If the Boxwood basil is container grown, it may need to be watered even more frequently. Leaves can be harvested throughout the growing season.

Is Boxwood Basil good for pesto?

Ocimum basilicum 'Boxwood'

Attractive, small-leaved, dense basil plant. Great in the garden and the kitchen: the taste is sweetly spicy and best used in salads, pesto, or pasta sauce.

Can you propagate Boxwood Basil?

It can be propagated by cuttings; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation. Boxwood Basil is a good choice for the edible garden, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers.

What is the difference between sweet basil and Genovese basil?

Sweet basil has an exotic flavor similar to a blend of licorice and cloves with a hint of mint. The herb is used in many Italian and tomato dishes. "Genovese" basil has a stronger flavor that is a stronger combination of anise and cloves.

How do you dry Boxwood Basil?

How to Cut and Air Dry Basil

Wash basil by gently swishing in a bowl of running water. ...
Dry basil by laying it out on a clean towel for an hour or more to remove surface moisture. ...
Gather 4-5 stems of basil and tie together with kitchen string. ...
Label your herbs and hang to dry.

What does lettuce leaf basil taste like?

The basil variety, 'Lettuce Leaf' originated in Japan and is notable, as the name suggests, for its enormous leaf size, giving the basil devotee more than ample amounts of the sweet herb. While this basil with big leaves doesn't taste exactly like the Genovese varieties, it still has a sweet basil flavor.

Are boxwoods edible?

All parts of a boxwood plant are poisonous. If the plants come in contact with human skin, it causes minor skin irritation that typically lasts for only a few minutes. If the leaves are eaten, they can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, convulsions and, in extreme cases, respiratory failure.