Herb Series: How to Propagate and Grow African Blue Basil

Have you ever heard of African Blue Basil? I heard that name and thought Sign. Me. Up! For us here in zone 5b where we have lots of sunny days in the summer, this herb just takes off and for my friends in the PNW or the Bay - be encouraged because unlike other basil varieties, this one grows very well in cooler more foggy climates. Some feel that it has a stronger camphor flavor than other types of basil, but I haven’t found that to be true. In fact, in pesto, I want that clear basil flavor that I get from this variety. It is sterile so it must be propagated (rather than grown from seed), which is a good method for those of us living in zone 5b who would like to prolong its use indoors, once the seasons change. In warmer parts of the country, it is a perennial. African Basil can be grown in containers, but remember it can get big so choose a container large enough to accommodate it. It is pretty drought tolerant and the stems form beautiful dark purple buds which open into light purple/lilac-colored flowers which act as huge pollinator magnets! I plan on having lots of African Blue Basil on hand to supply most of my basil needs this summer (but okay, yes, there will also be purple Thai basil, Lettuce Basil, Cinnamon Basil, and Genovese…I mean can you have too much?) 

If you’re like me, you love having basil on hand at all times, but it can be really annoying to constantly have to buy more when I forget to deadhead mine, which I invariably do, in all the busyness of the growing season. Growing basil from seed is easy but propagation saves money and generates lots of new plants which keeps my crop growing, and enables me to share with friends and family. It’s really easy, all you need is a few supplies, roughly 30 minutes to spare, and then you’re well on your way to quadrupling your basil supply.

The Steps:

To start, you’ll need a propagation set like I have pictured - I bought mine from Amazon (or you can also just use a glass jar). You’ll also need sharp scissors, water, and of course a basil plant. Like I mentioned, I like to propagate African Blue Basil specifically and I am currently growing enough to run across all my tomato beds (If you don’t have access to African Blue Basil don’t worry - if you are local I can hook you up with some and if you aren’t, this process works with almost any basil plant that you have on hand.)  The other supplies you’ll need are small pots that drain well and potting soil in which to plant your baby basil, so you might want to have those on hand, too.

As you look over your basil plant, you’ll want to choose tender stems that aren’t woody and that haven’t started flowering yet, if possible. We don’t want the energy in the stem to be directed to the flower - we want it to go into the roots. Ideally, you want to have cuttings that have 4-8 nodes. (A node is where two leaves meet the stem).  I like to make my cuts diagonally with very sharp scissors so as not to bruise the stem and I make the cut a quarter inch below the bottom node. You’ll want to remove some of the leaves, but don’t take off the leaves above the bottom 1-3 nodes. These are necessary for photosynthesis and will keep the plant healthy. This process helps force the cutting into root production mode. Check it daily to ensure that the water in the jar is still covering the bottom 2 inches of the stems. Remove any basil branches that die in the process, and if the water changes color, switch it out for new water.

Once your basil cutting has grown roots, it is time to plant them! Get some clean pots ready and fill them 2/3s full with soil. Take the cuttings out of the propagator or jar, gently. This part of the propagation process requires a light touch. I find that the roots that grow in water are more fragile than those who were born in soil so be careful not to break them.  Add more soil on top of the roots until you have filled up the rest of the pot, and carefully pat it down so that the basil stem can stand up on its own. 

Repeat this step with the rest of your basil cuttings.  Keep all of the pots watered and in the sun for 1-2 weeks in which time they should become established and grow new roots.  If, however, you live in a high temp zone - be gentle with your Basil babies and bring them inside after a couple of hours in the sun until they are really established.  

Good luck and please email if you have any questions! christina@modernfarmsteads.com