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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
light
full sun
moisture
moderate
soil
rich, warm, moist
season
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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