Post by trixtrax on Jan 12, 2010 4:52:38 GMT -5
While there is a perennial called African Blue Basil (Ocimum kilimandscharicum x basilicum purpureum) which has a medicinal camphor smell and is somewhat edible and pretty cold tolerant - as basils go - there are other actual culinary perennial types that rarely or never flower. Many of these types seem to have disappeared, in particular the asian types. Basil has a proclivity towards perenniality in the tropics, but it seems some types are more perennial then others.
The type I most familiar with is the columnar basils, so named because they send up many (usually) flowerless shoots which makes it a great cut and come again. They have to brought into well-lit indoors seasonally since they are still not frost tolerant. The two columnar types I know about seem to be very closely related to each other and Italian types. The first is Cuban basil. This site actually offers seeds. www.localharvest.org/organic-cuban-basil-seeds-C13267
The second is Greek Columnar basil (also known as Lesbos or Sweet Aussie). This blogger (in the Ozarks) has a picture of it flowering! jimlongsgardentalk.blogspot.com/2007/11/greek-columnar-basil-flowers.html
If I remember correctly, Lesbos, Sweet Annie, and Greek Columnar may be selections from a single population and therefore similar but slightly different. There was a man that I think has passed away that brought some perennial basil seeds to Australia, growing them, selecting the best, and selling the best clones of this variety.
This picture is just labeled Columnar Basil. my.gardenguides.com/photos/Rashell/photo/14310/id/188149
My guess is that the columnar types have some odd-yeared or stress related flower cycle.
I have grown African Blue Basil and it is somewhat culinary, suited for marinades and whatnot. It is also unfortunately sterile due to its hybrid nature. If a pool of perennial types could be allowed to open pollinate against each other, selected, then crossed against our normal culinary types, some interesting basils could result.
On the topic of basils. In basils tryouts, I have found asian basils to be, as a group, generally more resistant to diseases and cold-hardy then other types. I have done some experiments with over-wintering asian basils, but so far I have had them damp off in my cold house. I am trying again this year, in a warmer spot.
I would love to hear any stories or information about your basil experiences. Anyone growing perennial basil? Anyone interested to trade a cutting?
The type I most familiar with is the columnar basils, so named because they send up many (usually) flowerless shoots which makes it a great cut and come again. They have to brought into well-lit indoors seasonally since they are still not frost tolerant. The two columnar types I know about seem to be very closely related to each other and Italian types. The first is Cuban basil. This site actually offers seeds. www.localharvest.org/organic-cuban-basil-seeds-C13267
The second is Greek Columnar basil (also known as Lesbos or Sweet Aussie). This blogger (in the Ozarks) has a picture of it flowering! jimlongsgardentalk.blogspot.com/2007/11/greek-columnar-basil-flowers.html
If I remember correctly, Lesbos, Sweet Annie, and Greek Columnar may be selections from a single population and therefore similar but slightly different. There was a man that I think has passed away that brought some perennial basil seeds to Australia, growing them, selecting the best, and selling the best clones of this variety.
This picture is just labeled Columnar Basil. my.gardenguides.com/photos/Rashell/photo/14310/id/188149
My guess is that the columnar types have some odd-yeared or stress related flower cycle.
I have grown African Blue Basil and it is somewhat culinary, suited for marinades and whatnot. It is also unfortunately sterile due to its hybrid nature. If a pool of perennial types could be allowed to open pollinate against each other, selected, then crossed against our normal culinary types, some interesting basils could result.
On the topic of basils. In basils tryouts, I have found asian basils to be, as a group, generally more resistant to diseases and cold-hardy then other types. I have done some experiments with over-wintering asian basils, but so far I have had them damp off in my cold house. I am trying again this year, in a warmer spot.
I would love to hear any stories or information about your basil experiences. Anyone growing perennial basil? Anyone interested to trade a cutting?
