Holy Basil vs. Basil – What’s the actual difference?

Many of you may have heard about basil and holy basil, but there are likely many who don’t know the difference between them. However, I happen to know the actual distinction between the two. If you’re planting either, it’s important to understand what you’re working with—so keep reading and don’t stop here.

I’ve outlined every point that sets them apart for plant lovers who don’t know the differences between holy basil and basil. Feel free to ask in the comment section below if you encounter any issues.

Quick takeaways:

• Most of the farmers become confused when it comes to choosing between holy basil vs basil. Though both of the herbs are great when it comes to using them.
• It is said that basil is used in cooking and as an ornamental plant.
• Holy basil is used for medicinal purposes which makes both of them different from each other.

There are differences between holy basil and basil which you should be aware of. So, it would be easy for you to identify them. Growing basil in the home garden is every farmer’s choice and there are various types of basil plants.

They grow basil in their home garden so that they can enjoy its benefits. The differences between holy basil and basil will be discussed in this guide which will let you know about the right variant for you. So, let’s install this guide so that you know more about holy basil and basil. Make sure you keep connected with this guide. 

What is Holy Basil?

Holy basil is one of the common herbs that is grown by farmers. It is also famous for its other name which is a tulsi herb that gives a great essence to tulsi. It has medicinal benefits too.

By consuming the leaves of Holy basil, you can get rid of various problems such as indigestion, respiration issues, etc.

It also helps in boosting the immune system of an individual. Various Ayurvedic medicines use this herb as an ingredient in medicine. 

Scientific name	Holy basil’s scientific name is O. tenuiflorum.
Other names	They are even known by other names such as Tulsi, Sacred Basil, Kapoor Tulsi, etc.
History	It is one of the sacred basil of the Hindu dynasty. It has various benefits whether it is for cooking or medicines. It is said that the leaves of this herb were buried with the dead bodies in India which helps them to get into heaven.
Some Uses	It is obvious that holy basil does have some uses that is what is the farmer’s favorite choice. It is used in making tea which is good for health. It will help you to have good sleep and will relax you from anxiety. This herb also has other recovery features.

What is Basil? 

Basil is a culinary herb that is being used by people to give flavor to their dishes such as Italian, Thai, and others. It is great to plant basils in the garden.

They will help you in your health recovery and also help to reduce your stress level of an individual. It has the power to cure the symptoms of asthma naturally. 

Scientific name	Basil scientific name is Ocimum basilicum.
Other names	There are various names for basil. One of them is sweet basil. It belongs to the mint family.
Some uses	Basil is one of the herbs that can be used for various culinary purposes. It even has the features to be used in medicines that will prevent diseases.

Some of the Similarities of holy basil and basil:

• They belong to the Lamiaceae family. 
• Holy basil and basil are easy to grow corps. 
• They both are used in various cuisines. 
• They are native to Southeast Asia. 
• The Ocimum genus is of both species. 

Both of the crops have their own different uses and histories. Though they possess some similarities, holy basil and basil are different from each other in some contexts that I will explain to you. So, choosing the right variety for your garden area would be great by following this guide.

Holy Basil vs Basil: What’s the Actual Difference?

Before coming into confusion, you should know where you want to start your career. So, you need to be clear about which herb is best for your garden.

Whether basil or holy basil, which one will suit best in your garden and fulfill your needs? So, let’s proceed to know the differences between holy basil and basil:  

Taste

The taste of both herbs differs from each other. Holy basil has tasted more like cloves but basil has a different taste when it comes to eating.

Holy basil is not used in the kitchen as its taste is not liked by the people. 

What about the Appearance?

The leaves of holy basil are easy to use and can be cut down easily. The stems of holy basil are hairy while on the other hand, the leaves of the basil herb are hard which makes it difficult to cut down with the hands. 

Developing needs

As you know basil is one of the annual crops loved by farmers. It gives flowers so that you enjoy its benefits.

Holy basil is known as a perennial crop that lasts for various years and can bloom as per climatic changes. 

Medicinal properties

Holy basil has variations as compared to basil. The herb helps in reducing the stress level of an individual.

It will even reduce your anxiety level if you consume it on a regular basis. It will reduce the symptoms of depression.  

Soil Choices

There is a difference in the choice of soil used by holy basil and basil. Holy basil will do great in soil with a pH range of 6.5 to 7.5 whereas basil will do best in pH 5.1 to 8.5 as basil is less particular.  

Scientific basis

Though both of the herbs sound similar. The scientific name of holy basil is Ocimum Tenuiflorum whereas Ocimum Basilicum is for the basil.

But both Holy Basil and Basil belong to the Lamiaceae family. 

Their uses

The uses of both Holy basils vs basil differ from each other. You can use basil for kitchen and ornamental purposes whereas holy basil is mainly used for medicinal purposes to prevent diseases faced by people.  

Where to Buy?

As you know basil is a cut herb that can be easily available in the groceries. It is one of the economical crops that can be easily purchased from the market and is also cost-effective if you will continue harvesting the plant.

If you are looking to purchase fresh, Holy Basil, then it is a challenging task to do as dried. Holy basil will be easily available, but not the fresh Holy Basil.

So the best way to get it is by growing on your own with the help of seeds. Some of the peak industries tend to sell holy basil seeds so you can plant them in your garden and enjoy their benefits. 

Concluding lines

In this guide, you come to know that there are differences between holy basil vs basil which you should be aware of. This you will come to know in this article. It is said that basil is used in cooking and as an ornamental plant.

Whereas holy basil is used for medicinal purposes which makes both of them different from each other. The shade of the basil is lighter than the holy basil. So, it would be easy for you to identify them. You have to read the whole guide so that you understand better about them. 

Thanks for reading! Happy Gardening!

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