Ocimum fragrantissimum Selloi

The Perennial Anise Basil, Ocimum fragrantissimum 'Selloi', is a variety of perennial basil with deciduous foliage in winter and produces large green leaves with an anise flavour and fragrance starting from spring. It is both a culinary and ornamental plant, hardy up to -5°C (23°F) only in winter, which is why it is preferably grown in a pot to be brought indoors during winter.

Basil has upright, ramified stems with a square section like most Lamiaceae plants. The majority of basil varieties are annual herbaceous plants, native to India, reaching between 30 and 50cm (12 and 20in) in height. However, there are some perennial varieties, such as Kenyan Basil and Selloi Basil, which can withstand temperatures as low as -5°C (23°F).

The Perennial Anise Basil is both a culinary and decorative plant, forming a shrub that can reach 70 to 100cm (28 to 39in) in height. Small, highly nectar-rich flowers appear in spikes during summer. The leaves can be used in infusions or to flavour dishes. Add it at the end of cooking to preserve its aroma. One small clarification: the leaves emit a fragrance with anise notes, quite different from that of annual basil varieties.

Harvesting: It should be done as needed, preferably in the morning.

Storage: The ideal is to consume the fresh leaves quickly to fully enjoy their fragrance. For longer storage, it is possible to freeze or dry the basil leaves, but they will lose some of their aroma.

Gardener's tip: Cultivated in a pot, perennial basil is very decorative and can be placed in multiple locations: in a veranda, greenhouse, balcony, terrace, garden, vegetable patch... Just make sure to store the pot during winter.