herbaceous layer
basil
ocimum basilicum
the tender summer annual — its scent masks tomatoes from pests, its late flowers feed bees if you let a plant bolt, and every pinch keeps the kitchen supplied.
functions
insectarypest confuserpollinator forage
field guide
light
full sun
moisture
moderate
soil
rich, warm, moist
this profile is still growing. know basil? help add its uses, size, and how to grow it — contribute what you know →
season
open the calendar →j
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grower's notes
memberspropagation, guild role, and deeper ecology for basil — the members' view.
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relationships — grows well with
nasturtiumtropaeolum majus→borageborago officinalis→calendulacalendula officinalis→fennelfoeniculum vulgare→
see basil on the relationship map →the takeaway
start a guild around basil
plant these together and the relationships on this page start working for you — feeders, protectors, and cover, layer by layer.
- herbaceous
- basil — the anchor
- climber
- nasturtium