Ruby Red basil is a striking red basil variety that looks as bold as it tastes, with deep red-purple leaves that offer big visual impact and a mild aniseed-clove flavour. Growing to around 30cm in height, it has a bushy, compact habit, making it perfect for smaller garden spaces or pots. Its delicate red leaves will stand out in any herb garden!

Not just a pretty face, Ruby Red basil seeds are at home in a wide range of dishes once grown and harvested. Add it fresh to salads, pasta, or pizza for a splash of colour and an aromatic kick. Its unique flavour pairs wonderfully with tomato-based dishes and perfectly complements the taste of Mediterranean recipes, especially anything with garlic or onions.

How to Sow Seeds

Method: For direct sowing into the garden bed, sow in drills and thin to 30cm (12 in) apart.
Growing notes: Red basil thrives in a rich, well-drained soil and a warm, sheltered position. For potted or indoor growing, sow Ruby Red basil seeds 5mm (0.25 in) deep, preferably in separate biodegradable pots to avoid root disturbance. Plant them out once the danger of frost has passed, spacing 30cm (12 in) apart. Sow all year round to grow in pots on the windowsill. Harvest when the leaves are large enough to use in cooking. Learn more in the guide to how to grow a culinary herb garden. Soil Type Fertile, well drained.

Growing Needs

Soil: Well-drained soil
Temperature: Plant them out once the danger of frost has passed, spacing 30cm (12 in) apart

Plant Characteristics

Growth habit: Bushy
Harvest: Harvest when the leaves are large enough to use in cooking
Uses: Growing to around 30cm in height, it has a bushy, compact habit, making it perfect for smaller garden spaces or pots