Pollinator plant

Sweet basil

Ocimum basilicum

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Common names

57 names · 37 languages
EnglishYour language
+4 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (36)
Dutch
French
Afrikaans
  • Basielkruid[4]
Arabic
  • ريحان[4]
Armenian
  • Ռեհան բուրավետ[4]
Asturian
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • bazalka pravá[4]
Danish
Estonian
  • vürtsbasiilik[4]
Finnish
German
Greek
  • Κοινός Βασιλικός[4]
  • Ώκιμον το βασιλικόν[4]
Hawaiian
Hebrew
  • ריחן הבזיל[4]
Hungarian
  • Bazsalikom[4]
Indonesian
Italian
Japanese
Korean
  • 스위트바질[4]
Kweyol
Palauan
Polish
  • Bazylia pospolita[4]
Portuguese
Russian
  • Базилик душистый[4]
  • Базилик обыкновенный[4]
Santali
  • ᱠᱟᱹᱯᱤᱨ ᱢᱟᱹᱞᱤ[4]
  • ᱢᱚᱱᱫᱚᱨ ᱢᱟᱹᱞᱤ ᱵᱟᱦᱟ[4]
  • ᱢᱟᱹᱞᱤ ᱵᱟᱦᱟ[4]
+2 more namesShow fewer names
  • ᱰᱷᱤᱢᱯᱩ ᱵᱟᱦᱟ[4]
  • ᱵᱷᱟᱨᱵᱷᱟᱨᱤ[4]
Sinhala
  • සුවඳ තලා[4]
Slovak
  • bazalka pravá[4]
Spanish
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Oregano falso[3]
Swedish
Thai
  • โหระพา[4]
Totonaco
  • xpasimakatoro[4]
Turkish
Ukrainian
  • Васильки справжні (базилік)[4]
Zapoteco
Sources & name notes (4)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Ocimum basilicum — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Sweet Basil — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(5); heading: Common Name(s):; Ocimum basilicum.
  • Basil — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Ocimum basilicum.
  • Genovese Basil — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Ocimum basilicum.
  • Purple Basil — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Ocimum basilicum.
  • Saint Joseph's Wort — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(4); heading: Common Name(s):; Ocimum basilicum.
  • Thai Basil — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(6); heading: Common Name(s):; Ocimum basilicum.
[2] Ocimum basilicum — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Sweet basil — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • Basilikum — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • Basil — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • thai basil — results[0].names[48]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • Albahaca blanca — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • Albahaca dulce — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • Basilic — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • Basilico — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • Basilicum — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • Manjericão — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
[3] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Ocimum basilicum ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Sweet basil (EN); Basilikum (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 159943; taxon 48GBK.
  • Oregano falso (ES); Basil — VernacularName.tsv, line 159942; taxon 48GBK.
  • Albahaca blanca — VernacularName.tsv, line 159940; taxon 48GBK.
  • Albahaca — VernacularName.tsv, line 159939; taxon 48GBK.
  • Garden basil — VernacularName.tsv, line 159941; taxon 48GBK.
[4] Ocimum basilicum — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Sweet basil — results[10].names[1]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • Basilikum — results[10].names[12]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • Basil — results[10].names[8]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • thai basil — results[10].names[48]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • Albahaca blanca — results[10].names[2]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • Albahaca dulce — results[10].names[20]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • Basilic — results[10].names[13]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • Basilico — results[10].names[27]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • Basilicum — results[10].names[31]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • Manjericão — results[10].names[10]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • guiéstia — results[10].names[3]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • xpasimakatoro — results[10].names[4]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • Selasih — results[10].names[5]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • 羅勒 — results[10].names[6]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • 九層塔 — results[10].names[7]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • ki 'a'ala — results[10].names[9]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • bazalka pravá — results[10].names[11]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • Bazylia pospolita — results[10].names[14]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • Базилик обыкновенный — results[10].names[15]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • Базилик душистый — results[10].names[16]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • alfhabaca — results[10].names[17]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • メボウキ — results[10].names[18]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • ريحان — results[10].names[19]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • 罗勒 — results[10].names[21]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • vürtsbasiilik — results[10].names[22]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • bazilik — results[10].names[23]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • Κοινός Βασιλικός — results[10].names[24]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • Ώκιμον το βασιλικόν — results[10].names[25]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • Basilikum — results[10].names[26]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • සුවඳ තලා — results[10].names[28]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • Ռեհան բուրավետ — results[10].names[29]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • 스위트바질 — results[10].names[30]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • fesleğen — results[10].names[32]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • reyhan otu — results[10].names[33]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • basilika — results[10].names[34]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • Ruraked — results[10].names[35]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • ᱠᱟᱹᱯᱤᱨ ᱢᱟᱹᱞᱤ — results[10].names[36]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • ᱵᱷᱟᱨᱵᱷᱟᱨᱤ — results[10].names[37]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • ᱰᱷᱤᱢᱯᱩ ᱵᱟᱦᱟ — results[10].names[38]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • ᱢᱟᱹᱞᱤ ᱵᱟᱦᱟ — results[10].names[39]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • ᱢᱚᱱᱫᱚᱨ ᱢᱟᱹᱞᱤ ᱵᱟᱦᱟ — results[10].names[40]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • โหระพา — results[10].names[41]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • Васильки справжні (базилік) — results[10].names[42]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • ריחן הבזיל — results[10].names[43]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • Basielkruid — results[10].names[44]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • 九层塔 — results[10].names[45]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • 金不换 — results[10].names[46]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • 目箒 — results[10].names[47]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • basilika — results[10].names[49]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • Bazsalikom — results[10].names[50]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
  • bazalka pravá — results[10].names[51]; taxon id 61398; Ocimum basilicum.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Ocimum basilicum is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Lamiaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
0.1–0.91 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
0.1–0.36 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Ascending

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Annual; Perennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Rapid

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Native range
Trop. & Subtrop. Asia to N. Australia.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [3]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Medium suitability
Nectar value Medium
Pollen value Unknown
Plant profile

About this plant

Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) is a herbaceous plant. It flowers from June to October.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Ocimum basilicum — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 783826; ID 48GBK; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 783826; ID 48GBK; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Ocimum basilicum — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateLightMoisture and drainageFlowering season
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Ocimum basilicum — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 1062209; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 183658, 183660, 183663, 183664, 183665, 183666, 183667, 183670, 183671, 183672, 183673, 183674, 183675, 183676, 183677, 183678, 183679, 183680, 183681, 183682, 183684, 183685, 183686, 183687, 183688, 183689, 183690, 183692

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.