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Lemon Basil
Lemon Basil

Lemon Basil

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Ocimum × citriodorum. A cross born in the gardens of Southeast Asia between European sweet basil and a wild African basil, which combines the familiar structure of the first with a bright lemon-zest perfume — rich in citral, the same molecule that scents lemon verbena and lemon balm. Lively, fresh,...

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Ocimum × citriodorum.

A cross born in the gardens of Southeast Asia between European sweet basil and a wild African basil, which combines the familiar structure of the first with a bright lemon-zest perfume — rich in citral, the same molecule that scents lemon verbena and lemon balm. Lively, fresh, lightly sweet, with a discreet anise note beneath the citrus. Where classic basil evokes the Mediterranean, lemon basil instantly transports you to Bangkok, Java or Bali, where it is known as maenglak in Thai and kemangi in Indonesian.

A compact, elegant plant, with narrower, lighter leaves than sweet basil, crowned in full season by spikes of small white flowers that strongly attract pollinators. Indispensable in countless Southeast Asian dishes — added at the end of cooking to Thai curries, thrown fresh onto soups, mixed in with the herbs of the Indonesian lalapan (an assortment of fresh herbs served raw with rice). But it ranges well beyond that repertoire: magnificent with grilled fish and seafood, infused into a lemonade or summer cocktail syrup, scattered over a peach-and-mozzarella salad, or stirred into homemade vanilla ice cream for a memorable dessert surprise.

Grower's tip: Like all basils, it needs warmth — capricious germination below 18 °C, and a stunted plant for the whole season if transplanted into cold soil. Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, ideally on a heat mat, and transplant only once nights have stabilized above 12 °C. Lemon basil bolts a little faster than sweet basil, so pinch off the flower buds as they appear to prolong leaf production — or let it flower to harvest the blossoms (excellent in the kitchen as well, and loved by bees).

  • Open-pollinated. Self-pollinating but visited by bees, which can lead to crosses with other nearby basils — isolate for seed saving.
  • Height: 30-45 cm.
  • Maturity: 60-75 days for full size; first usable leaves at 5-6 weeks.
  • Exposure: full sun, sheltered from wind.
  • Rich, well-drained soil kept cool but not wet. Space plants 20-25 cm apart.
  • Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost. Transplant once all risk of cold has passed and the soil is at least 18 °C.