Ocimum basilicum ‘Purple Ruffles’

Purple Ruffles basil is an ornamental standout with a rich culinary heritage, introduced in 1984 and honoured with the All-America Selections award in 1987. Bred for both flavour and form, this variety grows into a compact, bushy plant with deeply serrated, ruffled leaves in rich shades of deep violet. Its striking appearance is matched by strong garden performance, thriving in beds, borders, or containers throughout the warm season.

This basil offers a sweet, mellow flavour layered with hints of clove and anise. It brings vivid contrast to salads, pestos, and herb vinegars, and its purple pigments add both colour and antioxidants to your cooking. The vibrant flowers draw in pollinators and can be used as edible garnishes in drinks or desserts.

Sow seeds indoors in late spring at a depth of 5 to 6 mm, keeping the soil lightly moist and warm. Germination occurs in 5 to 10 days under temperatures between 20 and 25°C. Use bottom heat to support strong seedling development.

Once the danger of frost has passed, transplant into full sun in fertile, well-drained soil. Space plants about 30 cm apart and begin harvesting leaves once plants are about 20 cm tall. Flowering typically begins by mid-summer, but pinching buds early can help extend the harvest window and preserve the strongest flavour. Expect to harvest around 85 days from sowing.

Standard packet contains approx. 200 seeds

Petite packet contains approx. 70 seeds