Basil: An Herb Society of America Guide
Garden Uses
Basil's uses in the garden aren't limited to traditional herb and kitchen gardens. James Adams reminds gardeners that basil also makes a nice ornamental plant. According to Adams, 'Magical Michael' is an attractive ornamental with dark bracts and flowers that mixes well with garden flowers, and purple basils look great with gray plants and brighter colors (1). Madalene Hill and Gwen Barclay like to use 'African Blue' as a landscape plant (44). Basils can also be used in the landscape as edgings (21) and annual borders (79) and in knot gardens and mazes (38, 70).
Basil's impressive scent makes it ideal for fragrance gardens and gardens for the blind (21). It can also play a primary role in children's gardens, bee gardens (21), and as a nectar plant in butterfly gardens (4).
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