Green Holy Basil Seeds (Ram Tulsi) – Aromatic Sacred Herb, Culinary & Medicinal, Zones 8–10

Green Holy Basil – Ram Tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum)

Green Holy Basil, known as Ram Tulsi in Hindu tradition, is one of the most sacred and widely used herbs in Asia. Revered for millennia in Ayurvedic medicine and central to Indian, Thai, and Southeast Asian cuisines, it carries a distinctive clove-like, peppery, slightly spicy fragrance that sets it apart from common sweet basil. The upright plants produce abundant green leaves on purple-tinged stems, with small white to pale purple flowers that attract pollinators throughout the season.

Equally at home in a temple garden or a kitchen herb bed, Green Holy Basil is used fresh in curries, stir-fries, teas, and chutneys, and dried for herbal remedies and aromatherapy.

Herb Details

• Common Names: Green Holy Basil, Ram Tulsi, Sacred Basil
• Latin Name: Ocimum tenuiflorum (syn. O. sanctum)
• Type: Tender Perennial (hardy in Zones 8–10; grown as annual in cooler climates)
• Scent/Flavor: Clove-like, peppery, slightly spicy — more intense than sweet basil
• Uses: Culinary, medicinal (Ayurvedic), aromatic, sacred/ceremonial
• When to Sow: Spring (after last frost)
• Germination: Moderate; 10–14 days at 70–85°F

Growing Instructions

• Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before last frost, or direct sow after all frost danger has passed.
• Surface sow or cover lightly with ¼" of fine soil; keep warm and moist until germination.
• Transplant or thin to 12–18" apart in full sun, well-drained soil.
• Water regularly but avoid waterlogging; loves heat and humidity.
• Pinch flower buds regularly to encourage bushier growth and more leaf production.

Harvesting & Uses

• Harvest leaves and stems as needed once the plant is well established.
• Use fresh in Thai curries, stir-fries, herbal teas, chutneys, and rice dishes.
• Dried leaves are used in herbal infusions for stress, respiratory health, and immunity (traditional Ayurvedic uses).
• Highly attractive to bees and beneficial insects when flowering.

Select your desired seed quantity above. Open-pollinated, untreated seed.