Ocimum gratissimum
African Basil, Clove Basil, African Basil, Wild Basil, Shrubby Basil, Tea Bush, Zulu Basil East Indian Basil, Mosquito Plant, Fever Plant, Tree Basil
Other regional names: East Indian Basil +1 more
- East Indian Basil
- Russian Basil
Also known as: Ocimum gratissimum var. gratissimum +1 more
- Ocimum gratissimum var. gratissimum
- Ocimum urticaefolium Roth
Botanical Data
- Taxonomic Rank: Species
- Botanical Family: Lamiaceae
- WCVP Morphological Data: Recorded natively as a subshrub or shrub.
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Ocimum gratissimum (commonly known as African basil or Clove basil) is a shrub within the Lamiaceae family. It naturally occurs in Africa, Temperate Asia, and Tropical Asia. Within its native range, this species is primarily associated with seasonally dry tropical conditions. There are naturally occurring subspecies and varieties of this species, which are linked below.
Macro Climate
Tropical
Plant Type
Shrub
Native Range
Continents (WGSRPD)
AFRICA, ASIA-TEMPERATE, ASIA-TROPICAL
Regions (WGSRPD)
Arabian Peninsula, China, East Tropical Africa, Eastern Asia, Indian Subcontinent, Indo-China, Malesia, Northeast Tropical Africa, South Tropical Africa, Southern Africa, West Tropical Africa, West-Central Tropical Africa, Western Indian Ocean
Botanical Countries (WGSRPD L3)
Aldabra, Angola, Assam, Bangladesh, Botswana, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Caprivi Strip, Central African Republic, China Southeast, Comoros, Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Gulf of Guinea Is., India, Ivory Coast, Jawa, Kenya, KwaZulu-Natal, Laccadive Is., Laos, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Northern Provinces, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sumatera, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zaïre, Zimbabwe
Introduced Range
Plants flagged as 'Introduced' have been transported outside their native historical range by human activity. While many are common ornamentals, some may become naturalized or invasive in local environments. Local ecological guidelines require verification prior to planting.
Botanical Countries (Non-Native)
Andaman Is., Aruba, Benin, Bismarck Archipelago, Bolivia, Brazil North, Brazil Northeast, Brazil South, Brazil Southeast, Brazil West-Central, Burkina, Cape Verde, Chad, Cook Is., Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Gambia, The, Guinea-Bissau, Hawaii, Jamaica, Leeward Is., Malaya, Marquesas, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Southwest, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, New Guinea, Niger, Panama, Queensland, Samoa, Society Is., Tonga, Trinidad-Tobago, Tuamotu, Vanuatu, Windward Is.
Subspecies, Varieties & Forms