Red Holy Basil Seeds (Red Leaf Tulsi)

Grow Red Holy Basil seeds for purple-tinged foliage and a bold, spicy, clove-like fragrance. Also known as Red Leaf Tulsi or Sacred Basil, this bushy herb brings aromatic leaves to your kitchen and ornamental appeal to garden beds, patio containers, and doorstep herb gardens. Harvest a few leaves to finish a stir-fry or steep a fragrant herbal tea.

Variety Highlights

• Botanical name: Ocimum tenuiflorum, also known as Ocimum sanctum.
• Common names: Red Holy Basil, Tulsi, Red Leaf Tulsi, and Sacred Basil.
• Foliage: Pointed, purple-tinged leaves on bushy, vigorous plants.
• Flavor and aroma: Spicy, clove-like, and musky, with a more intense character than sweet basil.
• Height: Approximately 20 inches.
• Flowers: Pink blooms from mid-summer to early fall.
• Life cycle: Tender perennial in suitable warm conditions; grown as an annual in cooler climates.

Sowing Your Seeds

• Start indoors 6–8 weeks before the last expected frost using a sterile seed-starting mix, or direct sow into prepared beds after frost danger has passed in warm climates.
• Press seeds onto the surface or cover very lightly, allowing light to reach the seeds.
• Keep the growing medium moist and warm, around 70°F. Germination generally takes 7–14 days, depending on conditions.
• The existing planting guide recommends rows 18 inches apart, with seedlings thinned to 6 inches apart.

Growing and Care

Choose full sun and well-draining soil with a pH of 6.1–7.3. Once the first true leaves appear, feed every other week with a diluted liquid fertilizer, such as fish emulsion, following the fertilizer label. Pinch flower buds regularly to encourage continued leaf production and delay flowering.

Climate: Listed for USDA Zones 9–11 as a tender perennial, with winter survival dependent on local conditions and frost protection. Grow as an annual in cooler regions. Containers are suitable for patios, balconies, and doorstep gardens.

Harvest and Kitchen Uses

Use fresh leaves in Thai holy basil stir-fries such as Gai Pad Gra Pow, soups, Indian curries, chutneys, rice, and noodle dishes. Add leaves toward the end of cooking to preserve their aroma, or use them as a fresh garnish. Leaves can also be dried for later culinary use or steeped fresh or dried with ginger and honey for herbal infusions.

Cultural Heritage

Tulsi has a long history in traditional Ayurvedic practices and is revered in Hindu tradition, including its association with Lord Vishnu. Living plants are traditionally grown in courtyards and sacred gardens as symbols of purity and protection.

Seed Pack Options

Select from a 200-seed pack, 500 seeds in bulk, 2,000 seeds in bulk, 5,000 seeds in bulk, or a 1-ounce pack. Choose your preferred size before adding to your cart.