Purple Ruffles Basil – 10 Seeds

Purple Ruffles Basil (Ocimum basilicum ‘Purple Ruffles’) is probably the prettiest of basils, if not of all herbs. With handsome dark purple-black fringed leaves that are heavily ruffled and fringed, it produces spikes of large and showy, pinkish-purple flowers. While it deserves a place in your kitchen garden, it also makes an excellent contrasting plant in a border. 

Tempting though it is to leave and admire it, one taste will have you tearing the leaves of by the armful.

Culinary Uses

• More complex than other basils, with tones of anise (liquorice), cinnamon and perhaps even citrus.
• The colourful leaves are full of flavour, aromatic when crushed and are especially fine for herb vinegars and for garnishing. 

Growing Purple Ruffles Basil

Indoor Sowing: Late Winter and Early Spring.

Direct Sowing: Spring and Summer.

• Sow indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost in spring
• Sow Basil Seeds evenly by covering them with 0.5 cm of soil.
• Keep the soil moist.
• The basil seeds should germinate within a week.