Ocimum basilicum var. purpurascens 'Purple Ruffles'
purple basil 'Purple Ruffles'
'Purple Ruffles' is an aromatic annual or biennial with deep purple, fringed and frilly, deeply-textured leaves and small, tubular white or pink-tinged flowers, 1cm in length, in spikes in late summer
Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
1–2 yearsUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Black Purple | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Pink White | Black Purple | ||
| Autumn | Black Purple | |||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H1CBotanical details
- Family
- Lamiaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Bushy
- Genus
Ocimum can be aromatic annuals, evergreen perennials or shrubs with opposite, linear to broadly-ovate leaves and small tubular white or pinkish flowers in whorls forming a spike
- Name status
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
Treat as an annual and grow in a light, well-drained, fertile soil in a sheltered position in full sun. Best grown in a container. May be grown as a short-lived sub-shrub if over-wintered under glass. Water freely in summer
Propagation
Propagate by seed sown in gentle heat in early spring or sown in-situ in summer
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Patio and container plants
Pruning
Pinch out flowerheads as they appear to ensure continued leaf growth. Cut back after flowering
Pests
Can get leafhoppers and aphids; slugs and snails may also be problematic
Diseases
May be affected by powdery mildews
Ocimum basilicum var. purpurascens 'Purple Ruffles'
purple basil 'Purple Ruffles'
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