When Does Lemon Basil Flower?

Overview

• Lemon basil (Ocimum × citriodorum), also known as Thai basil and Indonesian kemangi, is a hybrid developed in Thailand. It was first introduced to American consumers by Laurel Hill Herb Farm in New Jersey, and the seed is now available by mail order from various sources. The lemony flavor and scent is due to a high concentration of citral and linalool in the volatile oils of the plant. While lemon fragrance is the high note, the plant’s undertone notes are typical of most basils with a range from spicy to minty and a touch of anise.

Physical Description

• Common lemon basil has grayish-green leaves that look very similar to those of sweet basil, but are slightly narrower. At maturity, the plant has a typical height of 1 to 2 feet with an average spread of 12 inches. In late summer, flower spikes with small white blooms appear. Aside from use as a culinary herb, lemon basil is also grown for its attractive foliage and as a companion plant to other herbs and vegetables. The flowers, however, are not particularly showy.

Cultivation

• Frequent pinching of new growth will promote bushier plants, which translates to more leaves for use in cooking or to dry to make tea or seasoning blends. In addition to encouraging foliage growth, regular pinching back will deter flowering. This is a good idea during the harvest season because the volatile oils will remain concentrated in the leaves and increase their flavor. If flower clusters are not removed, they will set seed in fall. If you wish to collect the seeds to store for planting the following season, then allow one or two lemon basil plants to flower freely.

Varieties

• There are a few varieties of lemon basil with slightly different characteristics. One of the most popular is “Pesto Perpetuo” (Ocimum x citriodorum “Pesto Perpetuo”), which has lime green and white variegated leaves and is one of the few nonflowering basils. “Sweet Dani” (Ocimum x citriodorum “Sweet Dani”) is a hybrid that produces flowers in July or August that range in color from white to pink and purple. “Mrs. Burns” (Ocimum x citriodorum “Mrs. Burns”), which is noted for having the strongest flavor and scent among all lemon basil varieties, yields creamy white flowers with pink highlights in summer.