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How to grow and care for Thai basil
Grow your own Thai basil at home with our plant care guide.
What you need to know about Thai basil
Name: Thai basil, oriental basil, Asian basil, licorice basil (Ocimum basilicum var. thyrsiflora).
Plant type: annual herb.
Height: 40–45cm.
Climate: prefers tropical, sub-tropical and warm temperate climates, but can be grown during the warmer months in arid/semi-arid and cold temperate climates, when frost is unlikely.
Soil: plant in a soil enriched with compost and aged manure.
Position: full sun, and also part shade in tropical and sub-tropical climates.
Flowering: produces spikes with small purple and white flowers.
Feeding: regular applications of a seaweed solution and a liquid fertiliser high in nitrogen help to keep plants healthy and productive.
Watering: water regularly, especially during hot dry weather.
Appearance and characteristics of Thai basil
Closely related to sweet basil, Thai basil has slightly smaller foliage, striking purple stems and matching decorative flower heads. More intense in flavour than sweet basil but with a hint of licorice, Thai basil is a powerful addition to summer salads, as well as an attractive addition to the herb or kitchen garden.
Uses for Thai basil
Thai basil is a highly decorative herb that's equally suited to the ornamental garden or the vegie patch. The purple stems and flower heads make an attractive addition to the summer garden. An annual herb, Thai basil is best harvested regularly and used fresh in salads, soups and rice paper rolls.
How to grow Thai basil
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If growing Thai basil in pots, select a premium organic potting mix with the Australian standards tick.
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Choose a self-watering pot to maintain optimal moisture.
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Grow indoors on a sunny windowsill, or outside in full sun or part shade. If growing in a garden bed, improve soil prior to planting with compost and aged manure.
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Protect plants from snails and slugs while young, and apply a seaweed solution to improve plant vigour and resistance to frost and pests.
Caring for Thai basil
Although regular watering is essential, once established, Thai basil is easy to grow. Harvest regularly and remove flower spikes to delay your basil running to seed.
Thai basil prefers a moist soil, so enrich with compost and manure, water regularly, and mulch to reduce water loss through evaporation. Always water the soil and not the foliage, especially in hot weather.
Pruning and harvesting Thai basil
Harvest regularly to promote compact growth. An annual herb, plants should be cut down at the end of the growing season. The leaves can be dried for use throughout the year.
Diseases and pests affecting Thai basil
Snails and slugs can attack young plants. Protect with organic snail pellets or by using a snail and slug trap. Avoid overhead watering, especially during the day. If aphids become a problem, spray with suitable organic insecticide to prevent further damage.
How to propagate Thai basil
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An annual herb, Thai basil is best grown from seed sown in punnets or trays before being transplanted out into the garden.
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Start seed indoors for 4 weeks before introducing to the outside environment for 2 weeks prior to planting. Thai basil is best grown in spring or early summer in most climates.
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To collect your own seed, let your Thai basil flower and then collect the flowers as soon as they start to brown.
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Dry flowers inside in a warm location. Once dry, crush over a bucket or dish and sieve the contents to separate the seed from the chaff (dried flowers and leaves).
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Store seed in an envelope clearly marked with the name and the date collected.
Safety tip
After applying fertiliser, delay harvesting for a few days and rinse well before cooking and eating. If using products to deal with pests, diseases or weeds, always read the label, follow the instructions carefully and wear suitable protective equipment. Store all garden chemicals out of the reach of children and pets.
If you like this then try
Vietnamese mint: a moisture-loving Asian spreading herb that's at its peak during the warm months.
Lemongrass: popular in Asian and Indian cuisine, this strappy herb loves moist soils.
Coriander: a delicious annual herb perfect to grow from seed this summer.
Start planting today
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Health & Safety
Please make sure you use all equipment appropriately and safely when following the advice in these D.I.Y. videos. You need to be familiar with how to use equipment safely and follow the instructions that came with the equipment. If you are unsure, you may feel it is safest to consult an expert, such as the manufacturer or an expert Bunnings Team Member.
Grave health hazards are linked to asbestos, which may be in homes built up to 1990. Health hazards may result from exposure to lead-based paints in older materials and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer. You can also use a simple test kit from Bunnings to indicate the presence of lead-based paint.
Please make sure you use all equipment appropriately and safely when following the advice in these D.I.Y. videos. You need to be familiar with how to use equipment safely and follow the instructions that came with the equipment. If you are unsure, you may feel it is safest to consult an expert, such as the manufacturer or an expert Bunnings Team Member.
Grave health hazards are linked to asbestos, which may be in homes built up to 1990. Health hazards may result from exposure to lead-based paints in older materials and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer. You can also use a simple test kit from Bunnings to indicate the presence of lead-based paint.