Tulsi 'Vana' (Ocimum gratissimum)
Regular price $14.95Vana Tulsi, or Ocimum gratissimum, is one type of Holy Basil. Holy Basil plants are the key to holistic life, according to Ayurvedic medicine. While plants as medicine are nothing new to traditional medicinal practices, some cultivars like Ocimum gratissimum give skeptics a run for their money with its proven antimicrobial effects. You could say Ocimum gratissimum is easy to grow, given its history of cultivation in South Asia and Africa for thousands of years.
Ocimum gratissimum has a shrubby growing habit like most basils, reaching 2-4 ft tall at maturity. Vana Tulsi blooms in the late summer, with ripples of tiny white flowers. The roster of strong aromatic oils of Vana Tulsi include Eugenol, Oleanolic Acid, Ursolic Acid, Rosmarinic Acid, and Linalool. These help make it a natural pest repellent, and contribute to the sensory healing powers of Tulsi — Sometimes, smelling, feeling, and tasting is believing. Grow Vana Tulsi to complete your collection of Holy Basil.
Plant Type:
Perennial Herb
Harvest Season:
Year-Round for Krishna, Vana, and Rama varieties
Occasional harvesting of this plant will encourage growth.
Mature Size:
2-5 ft. tall and wide
Soil & Moisture:
Rich, moist, well-draining soil high in organic matter
Light Requirements:
Full Sun, Part Shade
Growth Rate:
Medium
Self-Fertile:
Yes
Zone Hardiness:
Outdoors 9-11 with frost protection; Patio/Greenhouse 4+
Propagation:
Grown from seed, capable of harvest now and within growing season
