Basil Cardinal

Basil Cardinal Seeds: Delicious Culinary Leaves

Finally, a basil bred to showcase truly magnificent flower heads!

Basil Cardinal seeds (*Ocimum basilicum*) offer the best of both worlds: the aromatic and flavorful leaves you expect from a culinary basil, coupled with extraordinarily large and rich purple flower heads that steal the show. Imagine the striking visual impact of these vibrant blooms in your garden or cut flower arrangements.

And when you’re ready to cook, the leaves provide that classic basil taste you love. This exceptional variety represents a remarkable achievement in conventional plant breeding, offering both beauty and utility in one stunning plant.

Key Features of Cardinal Basil

• Huge Purple Flower Heads: Produce exceptionally large and vibrant purple flower spikes.
• Dual Use: Enjoy the flavorful leaves in your favorite culinary recipes and the stunning flowers in arrangements.
• Rich Aromatic Leaves: The foliage retains that classic, delicious basil scent and taste.
• Ornamental Value: A beautiful addition to the garden with its striking purple blooms.
• Unique Breeding: A milestone in conventional breeding, specifically developed for flower prominence.

Growing Your Cardinal Basil

Sow your Basil Cardinal seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before the last expected frost or directly outdoors once the soil has warmed and all danger of frost has passed.

Choose a sunny location with well-drained soil. Sow seeds shallowly, about 1/4 inch deep, and gently cover. Keep the soil consistently moist until germination occurs, typically within 7-14 days.

When transplanting seedlings or thinning direct-sown plants, space them about 12-18 inches apart to allow for their full growth and impressive flower head development. Water regularly, especially during warm weather, and harvest leaves as needed, which may encourage even more of those stunning purple flower heads to emerge.